Uniform Guidance

Uniform creates an identity and sense of belonging to a community.  Backwell School uniform, including sportswear for PE, is compulsory for all students in Years 7 to 11; it is designed to be smart, practical, comfortable and affordable.

All students are asked to be clean and tidy and to  take a pride in their personal appearance.  All items of clothing must be marked with the student’s name.

We ask that all parents write a note in their child’s Personal Planner if they are unable to send their child to school wearing the agreed uniform. 


Boys and girls (Years 7 – 11) 

School polo shirt -  with school badge and appropriate House colour trim:

Cotswold House = Blue trim
Mendip House = Red trim
Quantock House = Yellow trim
Sedgemoor House = Green trim

School sweatshirt – navy blue school sweatshirt, with school badge.

Trousers and skirts– black & plain style only.

Shoes – all black.

Where to buy our uniform

School polo shirt and sweatshirt – these items must be purchased from the school shop.

Trousers and skirts – we advise parents to buy these items from Marks and Spencer’s uniform section. Their uniform stock is of the style and fabric that we feel are appropriate for our school environment and is very reasonably priced.  Please look for the drop-pleated style skirt and the trousers with the front crease, as shown in these photographs:

    

Further guidance

School sweatshirt – this is the only first layer to be worn on top of the school polo shirt.  This item must be purchased from the school shop.

Trousers – must be tailored and not be denim, canvas, jeans styled or skin-tight, no chinos.

Skirts – must be plain in style and no more than three inches above the knee (no frills,  tube skirts or similar stretchy fabric skirts).

Tights – if tights are worn, they must be black or neutral in colour.

Leggings/jeggings - these are not trousers or tights and are not to be worn to school.

Shoes – must be all black. Anything with a white/coloured marking on it is a trainer.  No high heels. No boots.

Vests - if a female students feels the need for a vest under her polo shirt, only plain white undergarments are to be worn.

Piercings – one small stud per ear only. Students will be asked to remove any other form of piercing as no other types of piercing are allowed. 

Jewellery – only watches and charity bracelets are allowed.

Coats and jackets – coats and jackets may be worn over sweatshirts for outdoor wear. Fluorescent bands or strips are encouraged to be worn for road safety purposes.  Denim jackets are not allowed in school.

Nail varnish – only clear nail varnish is allowed.

Make-up and hair dye – make up is only allowed if it is applied discreetly; heavy make up is not permitted, and neither is unnaturally coloured hair dye.

Sportswear: Boys  (Years 7 - 11) 

  • Rugby shirt, with school badge (Black/House colour reversible).*
  • Plain white T-shirt or polo shirt.
  • Black football shorts and black football socks.
  • Football boots (rubber studs preferred).
  • Training shoes (not boots) – non-marking soles.
  • White sports socks.
  • Swimming trunks.
  • Shin pads for football.
  • Mouth guard for Rugby.
  • For squash (Years 9, 10 and 11) a visor with anti-mist compound is recommended

Sportswear: Girls  (Years 7 - 11) 

  • Black/gold polo shirt, with school badge.*
  • Black skort*, black wrapover skirt or black shorts.
  • Black knee length socks (autumn and spring).
  • White ankle socks (summer).
  • Training shoes (not boots) - non-marking soles.
  • Football or hockey boots.
  • Swimming costume.
  • Plain black sports jumper (recommended item)
  • Black track suit bottoms (recommended item)

Students who wear spectacles should have plastic rather than glass lenses with an elastic band to keep spectacles in place.

* These items are available from the school shop and are compulsory for Years 7 – 11.