Uniform Policy

Nishkam School pupils are ambassadors of the school and all the Nishkam Schools in the trust. We believe our uniform fosters a sense of belonging, pride, and identity. It sets high standards for students and makes an important contribution to a positive and purposeful working environment. We ask that parents support us with the uniform policy and ensure pupils come to school wearing a smart, clean uniform every day.

The school uniform supplier is School Bells and My Uniform Hub

Articles of Faith

As a school, we encourage pupils to wear their ‘articles of faith’ (as specified by an appropriate religious authority).  The school ethos is designed to:

• Encourage and value the religious practices of pupils and staff whilst ensuring the health and safety, and wellbeing of all pupils and staff.
• Support the practice of religious understanding and harmony within schools serving diverse religious and ethnic communities.
• Meet the requirements of the law and government guidance on the wearing of the Sikh articles of faith in the workplace and public spaces (such as Equalities legislation, Health and Safety practices and school policies).
• If your child is an Amritdhari (initiated) Sikh, please kindly:
  • inform us by completing the ‘Article of Faith’ form, to help us support his/her journey through the school.
  • read the ‘Articles of Faith’ policy together with your child, to help understand his/her responsibilities in school.
  • be guided that, a Kirpan should be worn under the shirt or blouse. 
  • consider, if your child is under the age of 11, for him or her to wear a small kirpan around the neck. Parents/ carers or pupils wishing otherwise should discuss this with the school leader on a case-by-case basis.
• During contact sport in secondary schools (football, rugby, basketball, netball, hockey) and all sports in primary schools and swimming, we, the school, will provide a specifically designed small kirpan secured and cushioned within a sports belt to wear as an alternative. The pupil’s personal kirpan should kindly be removed by the pupil and placed in a specifically designed kirpan box provided by the school and left with staff in a predesignated space. It will be important that the sanctity of the kirpan is maintained in doing so.
• During P.E times and during any other physical activity, the Kara (steel bracelet) should be covered with a sweatband.

Jewellery

In the interests of safety, pupils should not wear jewellery as these items can easily become entangled and therefore present a health and safety risk.  

To reflect any professional working environment,  students may wear simple stud earrings, one in each ear.

Pupils should not come to school wearing any of the following:

• Skirts above the knee length
• Pencil skirts
• Jeans or skinny trousers
• Leggings (or similar)
• Patterned or “fishnet” tights; only plain grey tights with the school skirt will be permitted
• Boots, flip flops, trainers – there should be no sports logos on any shoes
• Jewellery including bracelets, necklaces, wristbands, non-ear piercings. Stipulated articles of faith may be worn
• Earrings other than simple studs or multiple pairs of earrings
• Make up
• False Eyelashes
• Acrylic nails, nail gels, nail colouring and varnish
• Hoodies, denim jackets, leather jackets or tracksuit tops worn as an outside jacket
• Extreme hairstyles (Mohawks, tramlines, shaved patterns, hair less than grade two, unnatural hair dye colours).

The uniform is compulsory to wear at all times on the journey to and from the school and during the school day. Failure to adhere to the policy is serious and will be addressed through the school’s behaviour protocols.

Recycled Uniform

At Nishkam schools we understand recycled uniforms can benefit all parents, particularly those on low incomes. In addition, by extending the life of garments, it is more sustainable.

If you would like to donate items please ensure the following:

• items are current, clean and wearable (i.e. no holes, rips, stains).
• Please remove all name tags where possible.

To find out more about donating or acquiring recycled uniforms please contact the school office.