School Uniform

School uniform

Orchard Park High School requires students to wear school uniform. We believe that a school uniform provides a sense of belonging and identity whilst setting an appropriate tone for an education setting.

Details of our school uniform requirements can be found below.

Our school uniform statement can also be found below.

In developing our school uniform we have carefully considered what is required practically for classroom lessons or for sport, safeguarding and health and safety considerations, and our obligations under the Equality Act 2010, and we have taken account of the wishes of parents and students.

We have also considered the cost implications for families and different groups of students and sought best value – we have minimised the number of branded items and avoided single supplier contracts so that parents have a choice of where they can shop, and we will avoid frequent uniform changes so that clothes can be passed on. We also offer school second hand uniform to ensure that families have low cost options.

If you have any questions about our uniform, or are struggling through financial hardship, please contact us at info@orchardparkhigh.net and we can support you.

Complaints about our school uniform should be dealt with under the school complaints policy which can be found on our school policies page here.

There are several banned items – please download the list of banned items here.

Second hand uniform provision

Preloved uniform is available to buy from the school for a small donation. Please contact Ms Ruby at cruby@orchardparkhigh.net with your requirements and she will respond.
We firmly believe that the cost of school uniform, including school shoes, should not be a barrier to your child’s education. If any of our families are experiencing particular hardships, then please arrange a meeting with Ms C Ruby through the school’s main office, and we will do all we can to support.
We welcome donations from all of our families all year round of quality preloved uniform. Please drop these off at reception.

Adjustments in hot weather

The school jumper is compulsory. However, in hot weather, students will be told that they do not need to wear it. This will be announced at line-ups and communicated to families on the same day.

Our school shirts are generic and plain white. Students can therefore choose to purchase a short-sleeved shirt if they wish.

Our school shorts are available from Hewitts from 24.05.2024: these are the only shorts permitted. They are unisex. Families can purchase them directly from the supplier. If worn, the rest of the uniform must be exactly the same as other students' (plain black or grey socks, black shoes, shirt and tie/blouse, blazer).

School uniform supplier

All uniform items, including PE kit can be either purchased from Hewitt’s of Croydon, from their shop or ordered online via their website. Our uniform is non-gender specific and boys and girls can elect to wear any variation or combination of the uniform they wish. For example, girls can wear shirts and ties with skirts or with trousers. However, all shirts must be worn with ties and blouses without.

Website: https://www.hewittsofcroydon.com/

Address: 45-51 Church St, Croydon CR9 1QQ
Telephone: 0208 680 4555

Uniform item	Detail	Important information when purchasing
Blazer	Compulsory item. It must be worn every day.	This must be purchased from Hewitts or our second-hand uniform shop and we advise that parents size up when purchasing so that they last longer.
Tie	Compulsory item (if wearing a shirt). It must be worn every day.	Must be purchased from Hewitts if students plan to wear a shirt. Not required for students wearing a blouse.
Blouse/shirt	Compulsory item. White blouse or shirt.	These items can be purchased from supermarkets, department stores and online.
‘V’ neck sweater	Compulsory Item. Embroidered school logo and specific. Year group coloured trim: for September 2024 starters, this is the green trim. 2024/25 Trim colours: Year 7: Green Year 8: Purple Year 9: Blue Year 10: Gold Year 11: Red	Must be purchased from Hewitts or our second-hand uniform shop Please note: Students keep the same colour stripe for five years. We advise families to size up for longer use.
Trousers	Compulsory Item. Tailored full-length, plain mid-grey colour. Must be bought through Hewitts of Croydon or our second-hand uniform shop and should be emblazoned with the school logo.	Must be purchased from Hewitts or our second-hand uniform shop Students are not permitted to wear tracksuit bottoms, shorts or other bottoms underneath their school trousers.
School socks	Plain black or grey and can be sourced from any provider.	Coloured, fluffy white or patterned socks are not acceptable. Socks with branded logos are also not acceptable.
Skirt	Compulsory Item. Must be bought through Hewitts of Croydon or our second-hand uniform shop. With the school logo, grey. Skirts are available in 22 or 24 inch length.	Must be purchased from Hewitts or our second-hand uniform shop.
Shorts	Optional Item. Must be bought through Hewitts of Croydon or our second-hand uniform shop. With the school logo, grey.	Must be purchased from Hewitts or our second-hand uniform shop.
Coats	Plain navy or black in colour (no patterns or coloured trims). Must cover the blazer when worn (i.e. not cropped jackets). No fur or leather (even faux). No large logos. Available from any provider.	Please note that we do not permit hoodies onsite at any time.
Scarves, hats, gloves	Scarves, woolly hats or gloves should be plain black or grey. Patterns are not permitted. Available from any provider.	Please note that balaclavas are not permitted.
Bag	Compulsory Item.	Branded school bag from Hewitts or a plain unbranded navy blue school bag (also available from Hewitts). No logos of any kind.
Shoes	Plain black, low heeled. Leather or similar polishable material can be sourced from any provider.	No canvas or trainer-style shoes will be accepted. Boots (including Kicker boots) are not permitted.
Tights	Grey or plain black and can be sourced from any provider.	Coloured or patterned tights are not permitted.
Optional navy leggings	Plain navy and must be ankle length.	Available from any supplier. Only to be worn under regulation sports shorts for PE lessons.
PE socks	Football socks only.	School football socks can be purchased from Hewitts or students may wear plain navy football socks.
Sports T-shirt	Compulsory item. Available at Hewitts of Croydon or from any supplier.	School PE top available from Hewitts OR a plain navy T-shirt. T-shirts must be round neck and completely logo free. (small brand markings, such as a Nike tick are not permitted) Students may wear a unisex style and can opt out of the fitted option. NB: Should students plan to represent the school for any sport, they must have the Hewitts PE kit with the school logo.
Sports shorts – navy	Compulsory item. Available at Hewitts of Croydon or from any supplier.	School PE shorts available from Hewitts OR a plain navy PE shorts which must be completely logo free (small brand markings such as a Nike tick are not permitted) Students may wear a unisex style and can opt out of the fitted option. NB: Should students plan to represent the school for any sport they must have the Hewitts PE kit with the school logo.
Sports bottoms	Optional item. Available from any supplier	Plain navy PE joggers which must be completely logo free (small brand markings such as a Nike tick are not permitted) Plain navy PE leggings worn only under shorts which must be completely logo free (small brand markings such as a Nike tick are not permitted)
PE bag	School PE bag	Or a plain navy blue drawstring bag. No logos permitted.
PE jacket	Optional for PE lessons and not compulsory.	Available from Hewitts. This is the only long sleeve top which is allowed.
PE shoes	Sports trainers only.	Non-marking soles only.

Uniform expectations that apply to all students

Jewellery

The only jewellery which is acceptable is a wrist watch (smart watches are banned). Any other form of jewellery is not allowed.

Orchard Park High School does not allow facial piercings of any kind, including ear, nose and mouth piercings and transparent piercing retainers.

Dental jewellery is also banned.

Students will be asked to remove any piercings if they are visible.

Belts

Belts with large buckles, symbols, designer logos and colours and not permitted to be worn.

Hair

No extreme hairstyle or unnatural dyed colours of hair will be permitted including dip-dyed hair colours. This includes tramlines or Mohicans. Students arriving in school with an unacceptable hairstyle will be sent to the OLP until it can be rectified. Male and female students with long hair must tie it back for PE, technology and science lessons.

Head scarves can be worn for religious reasons and should be plain and blue, black or grey.

Hair accessories should be small and either dark blue, black or transparent.

Make-up

Makeup should be discreet and not noticeable. Nail varnish including false nails and false eyelashes are not permitted. Students arriving in school wearing extreme or heavy makeup, nail varnish or false nails will be asked to remove it/them and sanctioned if this is a repeated issue. Lip gloss is also not permitted.

Tubes of henna must not be brought into school.

Year group jumper colours

Jumper colours by year group:

Year 7 - Blue
Year 8 - Yellow
Year 9 - Red
Year 10 - Green
Year 11 - Purple

PE uniform

All PE uniform items can be purchased from Hewitt’s of Croydon, either from their shop or ordered online via their website.

PE kit should be taken to PE lessons at all times. When students are unable to participate fully in activities they will be expected to assist in some way e.g. officiating, scoring, supporting etc.

Parents are strongly advised to name all PE kit items.

PE item	PE kit supplier
*Sports t-shirt	Hewitt’s’ of Croydon ONLY
*Sports shorts – navy
*Sports socks knee length – navy
*PE bag
Trainers – non-marking sole	Supplier of your choice
Mouth guard (compulsory for students in PE)
Shin pads
Black football boots

Optional PE items

PE item

Additional information

PE kit supplier

Sports zip training top

Optional for PE lessons. This is the only long sleeve top which is allowed.

Hewitt’s’ of Croydon ONLY

Ankle length leggings

(for religious reasons)

Plain navy. Only to be worn under regulation sports shorts for PE lessons.

Supplier of your choice

Download
OPHS uniform policy.pdf

Information