At Pilton Community College, we have high expectations of our students in all aspects of life. As always, we encourage them to “be the best version of yourself”. Our uniform policy is designed to maintain high standards but also to allow for comfort and individuality. At Pilton we believe that wearing the correct uniform consistently and appropriately is not just about appearance, it is also about pride, belonging and readiness to learn.
Being able to follow the policy reflects students’ values and strengths and prepares them for professional life after school, whilst being ambassadors in the community. We strive to maintain high standards, as well as being able to create a culture of identity and belonging.
Uniform Purchase
All uniform items can be purchased from:
- Brand it - at Seven Brethren Bank, Barnstaple. EX31 2AS (next door to BJ's Value House). Items can be purchased in store. Contact them via email or telephone on 01271 377222. More information here.
- Broken Clothing (formerly Daws) at Affinity Devon Outlet Centre, Bideford. EX39 3DU. All items can be purchased online only.
Non-logoed items are also available from other suppliers, however any items not purchased from Broken Clothing or Brand it must be indistinguishable in appearance from the standard school items.
Parents or carers of students who are in receipt of free school meals should contact the school for financial support with purchasing uniform items. Any other parents or carers who may have difficulty with purchasing school uniform should also contact the school to discuss support that may be available.
School Uniform Expectations
- A plain white school shirt
- A coloured house tie
- A black blazer with the Pilton logo, worn at all times on uniform days
- A standard black pleated skirt or a standard black pair of trousers (not slim fit). Tailored black shorts may be worn throughout the year.
- A black knitted V-necked jumper with a Pilton logo (optional) or a black Pilton logo sweatshirt (optional)
- Plain black, non-logoed footwear. Boots and heeled shoes are not to be worn.
- Students may wear a coat to school, which must be removed in classrooms. Please note that an alternative jumper may not be worn as a substitute for a coat
- Socks must be black or white. They should be unpatterned and should not have any decoration such as ruffles. Over-the-knee socks are not permitted.
- Tights should be plain black or neutral in colour and unpatterned
Summer Uniform
In the summer term, students may attend school without their blazers and a tie when they are advised that they may do so. This will be announced by the head teacher and communicated home. All other expectations remain the same.
PE Kit
P.E. kit may be worn to school only on days when students have PE or Dance lessons. On other days, full school uniform must be worn; students taking part in after-school sports clubs or fixtures should bring their kit with them and change after school.
For PE, students will require at least one lower item (shorts/leggings/tracksuit bottoms) and two upper items (sweatshirt/quarter zip training top) and (polo shirt or training top). The sweatshirt can now be worn with school uniform if desired, but the quarter-zip training top cannot). Both upper items must have the Pilton logo.
Lower items can either be Pilton logo or plain unbranded. Shorts must be plain black knee length or 2-in-1 shorts, Nike Pros or similar-styled shorts are not allowed unless a second pair of shorts are placed over the top of them to create the 2-in-1 look.
Please note that the only non-branded item of PE kit allowed are the black tracksuit bottoms/shorts/leggings. In order to comply with our uniform expectations, these must be plain black or have only a small logo. Piping or striping down the side or over-sized logos are not acceptable. The logo must be no bigger than a bank card/staff ID badge. We may ask students to check this to ensure they meet the requirements.
- A blue polo shirt or training top with the Pilton logo
- The black sweatshirt or quarter-zip training top with the blue Pilton logo
- Training trousers with the Pilton logo
- Leggings with the Pilton logo
- Knee length shorts or 2-in-1 shorts with the Pilton logo
- Plain black (not navy), unbranded tracksuit bottoms, leggings or shorts which are identical in style and length to the logoed kit items. No piping or striping down the side or over-sized logos.
- Royal blue socks (boys)
- Black or white socks may be worn on PE days
- Trainers of any colour may be worn with PE kit, but must be fit for purpose
- Moulded football boots
- The royal blue rugby top is an optional extra. This can be worn instead of the polo shirt/t-shirt and is a good idea for rugby/football lessons and after-school clubs
- UGG boots/walking boots are not allowed
Please note
- Gum shields and shin pads are also required for some lessons
- For health and safety reasons jewellery will have to be removed for some PE activities. If earrings can not be removed they must be taped. Students will be offered tape or they may provide their own
- Long hair must always be tied back. Students to provide their own hairband
Equipment
- A school bag (we recommend a rucksack).
- A clear pencil case with pens and pencils and other appropriate equipment as required by subject teachers
- A named Yondr pouch in which to carry their switched off mobile phone
Jewellery and accessories
- A standard watch can be worn but no smart watches.
- Earrings allowed are small studs but please note that hoops, bars or stretchers are not allowed.
- A nose piercing is permitted but must be a small stud, hoops/rings are not allowed.
- Facial or tongue piercings are not allowed.
- Students choosing to wear jewellery must be aware that they may be asked to remove it in practical lessons for health and safety reasons and will be responsible for looking after it.
- Belts, or other adornments should not be worn. The exception is if a belt is needed for a pair of trousers, in which case it should be plain black with a discreet buckle.
- If make-up is worn it should be discreet.
- Nail varnish may be worn but nails must be kept short.
- Acrylic nails are not permitted.
- Hair colour should fall within the natural range and should not be extreme. No patterns should be cut into hair. Extreme hairstyles such as ‘Mohicans’ or ‘skinheads’ are not considered appropriate for school. Hair should not be cut shorter than a Grade 2.
- Hats and gloves may be worn outside the school building but must be removed upon entry. Coats and scarves may be worn for transitions around the school but must be removed once in classrooms.
- School bags need to be sufficiently large to carry school books and equipment but should not cause a hazard when moving through the school corridors. Rucksacks are recommended as they balance weight and protect students’ spines
Please note that:
- non-school uniform items such as branded sweatshirts, jumpers or hoodies are not allowed at anytime.
- that an alternative jumper may not be worn as a substitute for a coat.
- students will be asked to removed any items of non school uniform. These items will immediately be confiscated for the day. Items will be stored in the Year Office or the uniform store and can be collected at the end of the day.
Should students arrive at school out of correct uniform, or otherwise not meeting our expectations regarding appearance, they will be given the opportunity to rectify this. This will involve being sent home to change where possible or being loaned replacement items. In some circumstances, it may involve supporting a student with the purchase of correct uniform or footwear.
If a student needs to leave school premises, or if items need to be purchased, parents or carers will always be contacted to discuss the matter. We have ample spare uniform at school and this will always be offered. Should none of these options be possible, or if loaned items are refused, the student concerned will be kept out of mainstream circulation until the issue is rectified.
In the event that uniform items are borrowed from the school, the student will be asked to hand their Yondr pouch into the uniform store as a deposit for the borrowed item. A record will be made of the loan and students will be asked to return the loaned item at the end of the day and their Yondr pouch returned. All Yondr pouches will be locked by the student and then placed in a secure cabinet in a locked room.
