The Dress Code
THE UPPER SCHOOL DRESS CODE
Part of the Special Character of Raphael House is that we do not have a school uniform. The following Dress Code sets out what the School requires to ensure that students’ dress is appropriate for school activities and acceptable in appearance. Furthermore, as Upper School students provide an important role model for our younger children and represent the School in the wider community, what they wear and how they wear it is very important in the school environment.
Students’ dress should be appropriate for school activities and of neat and tidy appearance.
The following sets out what is allowed and what is not allowed on all clothing ( including jackets), footwear, accessories and jewellery.
ALLOWED
- Patterned fabric e.g. striped, spotted, geometric designs, multi-coloured. The pattern must not be offensive (as defined below)
- Small logos (words or designs). Small means smaller than a standard playing card. The logos must not be offensive (as defined below)
- Raphael House logo and name on sports clothing and cultural group clothing
NOT ALLOWED
- Words (other than small logos as above)
- Pictures
- Designs or logos larger than a standard playing card
Offensive is defined as anything which depicts demonic themes, violence, death, skull bones or skeletons, gore, drugs, alcohol, smoking, sexual themes, swearing or insulting words or phrases.
Clothing
String tops are not allowed and vests and tops must be wide enough at the top and back of the shoulder to cover underwear straps
The whole torso must be covered; this means that low riders worn with cropped or short tops are not acceptable
Revealing tops, t-shirts, dresses, skirts, mini skirts and shorts are not acceptable
Skirts and shorts must not be higher than the length of a standard playing card above the knee
Transparent or see-through tops are not acceptable
Underwear worn as over-dress is not acceptable
Mesh tops may be worn if worn over a non-transparent T-shirt
Shorts and trousers should be properly held up around the waist
Clothing should not be ripped or torn. Designer ripped clothing is also not acceptable
Hats are not to be worn indoors
Footwear
For safety reasons, shoes with closed toes must be worn during woodwork, craft and various other specialist lessons including science
Jandals are not allowed
Students must wear footwear at all times; walking around in bare feet is not appropriate for our school environment
Accessories
The following accessories are not allowed:
Dog collars
Metal studded accessories
Chains
Hair
Hair should be kept clean and tidy and be kept off the face. Long hair must be tied back or held in place with a head band to ensure a tidy appearance, to avoid hair falling over the face and for safety reasons in practical lessons.
Upper School students are allowed to dye their hair, but only in natural (human hair) colours.
The use of hair gel is allowed.
Dreadlocks are allowed, providing a professional hairdresser does the styling. Students are expected to maintain their dreadlocks in a neat and tidy manner.
Beards and/or moustaches are allowed for senior students in classes 10, 11 and 12.
Jewellery
Jewellery may be worn but, for safety reasons, long earrings, bracelets and rings are not permitted during woodwork, craft, metalwork and gym lessons and students will be asked to remove them.
Upper School students are allowed up to two pairs of earrings or ear studs.
No external facial jewellery or piercing, except for students in classes 9, 10, 11 and 12 who may wear a small, inconspicuous nose stud.
Make-up
Only light, subtle make-up is acceptable
Facial glitter is not allowed
Miscellaneous
Visible tattoos are not allowed
Consequences for students who do not comply with the Dress Code
Any student contravening the dress code will be sent to the School Co-ordinator/Principal, Karen Brice-Geard, whereupon the following will apply:
First non compliance: Level 1 Offence will be given (i.e. lunchtime detention)
Second and subsequent offences Level 2 Offence will be given (i.e. after school detention)
A student wearing a T shirt which does not comply with the dress code will be asked to remove it and wear a school supplied item. The offending T shirt will be retained by the School Co-ordinator/Principal and given back to the student at the end of the day when the School T shirt is returned.
Students wearing other clothing which does not comply will be given a note to say that they have seen the School Co-ordinator/Principal regarding the non compliant item or items and that they have received a Level 1 or 2 offence as appropriate. The note will record the time and date and be signed by the School Co-ordinator/Principal and can then be shown to any teacher who later in the day may notice the non compliant item.
A student wearing accessories which do not comply will be asked to remove them and pick them up from the School Co-ordinator/Principal at the end of the day.
All teachers will monitor the dress code, but the School Co-ordinator/Principal, Karen Brice-Geard is the final arbitrator for this code.
CLOTHING FOR GYM AND SPORTS LESSONS
Students must change into the following clothing for gym or sports lessons
T-shirt
Shorts or track pants
T-shirt
Sweatshirt
Sports shoes with adequate grip
Students should also bring a sunhat.
A mouth-guard will be required for hockey (parents will be notified by mail when this is required)
The consequences of forgetting the above items in the Upper School are:-
1 x = reminder
2 x = lunchtime detention
