Uniform

Below is a list of uniform items that are mandatory for your child to attend The Barlow Roman Catholic High School.

School Uniform

Items	Compulsory?	Branded?	Seasons
The Barlow blazer with school crest	Yes, for Years 7-10	Yes	All
The Barlow black jumper with school crest	Yes, for Year 11	Yes	All
School tie	Yes	Yes	All
The Barlow maroon V-neck jumper with logo	No, optional for Years 7-10	Yes	N/A
White shirt/blouse with stiff collar. This must be tucked in.	Yes	No	All
Plain black shoes (the shoes must be of leather or leather-style material. Trainers and boots are not acceptable, nor is canvas footwear. Shoes must not have a branded logo visible.	Yes	No	All
Black tailored trousers. Black jeans/corduroy or tight-fitting leggings/jegging style are not permitted.	Yes	No	All
Either a pleated skirt or a skater school skirt, no more than two inches above the knee with opaque tights OR black tailored school trousers and plain black ankle socks (no trainer socks, no frills) Straight skirts are not permitted	Yes	No	All
Pupils wearing black permitted school trousers should wear plain black socks (no frills or bows).	Yes	No	All
Pupils wearing a permitted school skirt, should wear opaque black tights.	Yes	No	All

In total, only two branded items of school uniform are compulsory and can be purchased from any of our uniform suppliers:

MCS Stores – 220 Fog Lane, Didsbury, Manchester, M20 6EL, contact no. 0161 445 7740

Little Angels – 490 Wilbraham Road, Chorlton, M21 9AS, contact no 0161 881 3895

From September 2024 uniform can also be purchased from:

Debonair Schoolwear - 2B Hale Top, Civic Centre, Wythenshawe, Manchester M22 5RN, contact no 0161 498 0200

Triple S School Uniform - 102 Heaton Moor Rd, Stockport SK4 4NZ, contact no 0161 442 8834

All non-branded uniform can be purchased from any uniform supplier or supermarket.

PE Uniform - Available from September 24

Items	Compulsory?	Branded?	Seasons
Black polo t-shirt with The Barlow RC logo	Yes	Yes	All
Maroon and black rugby jersey (outdoor use)	Yes - Boys	No	All
Either black shorts with the school logo OR black leggings with the school logo OR black joggers with school logo OR black skort with school logo	Yes	Yes	All
White or black socks	Yes	No	All
Trainers	Yes	No	All
Black sweatshirt with school logo	No	Yes	All
Football shin guards /black football socks as required.	Yes	No	All

In total, only two branded items of PE Kit are compulsory. Existing PE uniform is acceptable until a replacement is required.

Other Guidelines

Hoodies, sweatshirts or tracksuit tops are not permitted.

A wrist watch may be worn at owner’s risk. Other jewellery of any sort is forbidden including nose, ear and tongue studs.

Make up and nail varnish is forbidden.

A strong rucksack or holdall is required. A separate bag may be needed for physical education equipment.

Pupils should not bring iPods, mobile phones or any other items of value into school.

Second Hand Uniform

At the start of a new academic year (September) and towards the end of the academic year (June) we will ask all children if they have any old school uniform, they wish to donate that they no longer use. We kindly ask parents/carers to wash the uniform before donating any garments. Any second-hand uniform can be handed into the school office.

If any parents/carers require any second-hand uniform please contact your Head of Year to arrange collection of the garments. If you are able you may wish to make a small donation to our school fund.

Uniform Expectations

In order to support parents in understanding the styles of skirts and trousers that are permitted, please see the images below.

Skirts

Trousers

Jewellery & Make-up

For reasons of health and safety we do not allow pupils to wear jewellery in our school.

Pupils are not allowed to have piercings in their ears, nose or mouth.

Pupils should not be wearing a retainer if they have had a piercing during the school term.

Pupils are not allowed coloured contact lenses. Contact lenses are to be clear.

Make-up is not permitted to be worn in our school. Acrylic nails are not allowed in school, neither is the wearing of nail varnish. Nails should be kept to a sensible length. Eyelash enhancements and fake tan are not permitted in school.

If pupils are found to be wearing jewellery/make-up:

Pupils asked to remove jewellery/make up nail varnish via Pupil Services, Family Tutor or
any other member of staff.
If make-up and nail varnish are semi-permanent, pupils will be isolated until the matter
has been resolved.

Hair

We recognise that there will always be a variety of hairstyles worn by pupils. Whilst remaining tolerant of most styles, we will treat as a breach of discipline haircuts that are extreme – haircuts
where patterns, stripes or letters have been cut into the pupil’s hair; or hair that is dyed in bright or unnatural colours – for example blue, pink, or purple. Hair must be one colour and the colour
MUST BE NATURAL. Pupils with long hair MUST HAVE THEIR HAIR TIED BACK in practical subject
areas. Hair accessories should be discrete and plain black in colour.

Braided hair is allowed but the braids need to be one colour and natural in colour.

If a pupil’s hair is not suitable, they will be isolated until the matter has been resolved.

If a pupil does not have their hair tied back in practical subjects, staff will issue an N3 detention.
Refusal to apply this rule will result in an N4 sanction.

Outdoor Coats & Hoodies

Pupils are forbidden to wear hoodies, track suit tops, sport jackets or body warmers in and around school. If pupils are found to be wearing them:

Pupils asked to remove hoodies and hand into Pupil Services.
Item will be kept with confiscated items and returned to the pupil at the end of the day.

Repeated incidents of pupils wearing hoodies:

N3 Detention – 3rd warning regarding uniform.
N4 Isolation – Refusal to comply to the schools’ Uniform Policy.

Outdoor coats MUST BE PLAIN AND A DARK COLOUR. Pupils are not permitted to wear light
coloured coats e.g. white/yellow. Nor coats that are of an inappropriate material, e.g. fur / denim
/ leather.

Outdoor coats are not to be worn inside the school building.

Hoods are only to be worn up if it is raining.

Headwear

Pupils are permitted to wear religious headwear and these should be either black or maroon in colour.

All other headwear is not permitted – baseball caps, woolly hats.

Equipment

ALL pupils should arrive to school every day with an appropriate, functional school bag (please note, no fashion bags are permitted) and be fully equipped for school:

Pencil case
Pencil
Ruler
Pens (black ink)
Rubber
Reading book Years 7 & 8.
PE kit (when pupils have a PE lesson.)

We have a ‘zero tolerance’ approach to incidents of non-compliance with our School Uniform Policy. In the event of any pupil arriving at school without the correct uniform, pupils will be expected to borrow items from Pupil Services and wear them that day. If they refuse to do this, they will be isolated until the issue has been resolved. Contact will be made that day with parents/carers to ensure that the pupil wears the correct uniform the following school day.

Personal Property

Parents are strongly advised to ensure that personal property, including all items of uniform, are clearly marked with their child’s name. Whilst every effort will be made to safeguard property, the school cannot be held responsible for any loss or damage.

The Barlow RC High School uniform is intended to be accessible to all families.

In accordance with the DFE guidance for school uniforms, we understand an unreasonable burden can be placed on families where a school’s uniform is too expensive. The cost of a school uniform should not be so expensive that it leaves students or their families feeling that they are unable to apply to or attend a school of their choice.

Our school makes its best endeavours to be inclusive and considerate of costs to ensure ease of access and best value for Parents and Carers and our students. We can also offer support with uniform should families be in financial difficulty. In this instance please contact your Head of Year.