Uniform: review feedback and buy early sale

2017 Uniform Review is now complete

During Term 3, a working group of School Council conducted a review of the current uniform to assess how well it is meeting the needs of our students and families. Thank you to those who participated in the review process through surveys, working groups and direct feedback. We had a strong response from both students and families, but particularly from our students in Years 7-9.

What you told us

Key findings of the review include:

• Desire for genuinely ‘gender neutral’ options including pants and shorts that better fit a range of female body types.  This was linked to a strong desire for the options to be seen as ‘fair’: ie. policy and items applying equally to both females and males;
• Warmth is an important issue for students;
• Current style woollen jumper is not rated highly;
• Current spray jacket is widely worn but there are concerns about its warmth, durability and style;
• The long-sleeved white shirt (winter uniform with the winter skirt) is unpopular;
• Black socks are the preferred alternative to the current white/grey socks;
• Desire for the school to consider existing policies re. changing into/out of sports uniform;
• Desire for the school to offer a ‘year-round’ uniform with more ‘mix and match’ options.

Initial recommendations 

Change to uniforms is a slow process and planning must occur well in advance of a change being implemented; and with consideration of the needs and financial capacity of families. The Working Group has made both short-term and long-term recommendations from this review. 

Short-term:

• Black business socks (plain, calf-length) will replace white/grey socks for 2018. If students need to replace their socks during Term 4 2017, they will be permitted to wear the black socks as specified on the uniform list (attached)
• During 2018 alternative items will be trialled with groups of students. These may include:
  • soft-shell jacket
  • warm-up top for inter-school sports teams
• Request that our supplier source a suitable ‘female-cut’ version of the grey shorts and pants (families will be notified if these become available in 2018)

Some aspects of the uniform have been identifed for further consideration and confirmation by the end of 2017. These include: offering the existing purple shirt as an alternative to the white long-sleeved shirt during the winter terms; changing arrangements on days when students have Phys Ed and Sport.  We will provide further updates to families on these matters and the 'long-term' considerations below through the newsletter. 

Long-term

The Working Group has identified a number of factors through the review that warrant further consideration for 2019 and beyond. This is currently in process and updates will be provided to families before the end of this year.

Buy early and save by October 29

Dobsons have launched their 'buy early and save' sale for 2018 uniform items. A price list and ordering instructions are attached.