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Dress code

HCS operates a smart business and professional dress code

Students must wear the correct uniform at all times. This includes on their way to, at, and on the way home from the HCS. It is a symbol which students are recognised within the community, it fosters a sense of pride for, and respect for the learning environment as well as preparing them to enter the professions.

Male

  • Black suit
  • Formal white collared shirt
  • HCS tie (visible at all times)
  • *Black formal shoes

Detail:

  • Outdoor winter coats/jackets must be a plain dark colour and smart (professional). Outdoor coats must not be worn in the school building, and coat hoods must only be worn if it rains.
  • Hoodies must not be worn in the HCS building or at any time while wearing the Sixth Form uniform.
  • V-neck plain black jumper which shows the shirt is optional, but no roll and/or crew necks, hoodies or sweatshirts. This should be worn as well as the blazer, not instead of. The HCS tie must be visible at all times.
  • No t-shirts or polo shirts. No logos or vivid patterns.
  • Jackets should be blazer/suit style. No casual, leather, or denim styles.
  • Trousers must be formal and business style (no flares, side slits, shorts, tracksuit bottoms, jeans or chino style). Belts must be plain black with no logos/symbols. Trousers must be worn around the waist, which is approximately 4cms below the belly button.
  • Piercings – a small, discreet ear stud may be worn, but no other ear and facial piercings are allowed (no nose, tongue and/or eyebrow rings).
  • Hair – extreme hairstyles are not allowed and for the avoidance of doubt, unless for medical/religious reasons shaving one’s hair is deemed an extreme haircut. Patterns, stripes, or logos must not be shaved or cut into hair or eyebrows. Hair must not be dyed in unnatural colours. No hair beads or hair clips are permitted.
  • Hats – no hats to be worn in the HCS buildings
  • Head coverings -no head coverings to be worn, other than for religious reasons. Any religious head coverings must be plain black, navy blue, or white.
  • Plain headbands may be worn to keep hair out of the face but must be slim (no more than 8cms in width), and either black, navy blue or white.
  • Face coverings – no face covering must be worn on the Sixth Form campus site and school trips. A student’s face must be visible at all times.
  • Footwear* – a plain black flat formal shoe must be worn. Kickers or any other type of shoe that resembles trainers are not permitted. Boots are not allowed.
  • Tattoos must not be visible.
  • ID Badges and lanyards – students are required to wear an ID badge which must be visible at all times. Where a student has lost or misplaced their ID badge, they must inform reception immediately.
  • Badges – no badges must be worn on the school uniform, bags, and coats except those awarded to students by a teacher.

Female

  • Black suit
  • Formal white collared shirt
  • Black formal trousers/plain black formal skirt/plain black jilbab (ankle length) with a black, navy
  • blue, or white headscarf
  • Black formal jacket/blazer
  • *Black flat formal shoes

Detail:

  • Outdoor winter coats/jackets must be a plain dark colour and smart (Professional). Outdoor coats must not be worn in any of the HCS buildings and coat hoods must only be worn if it rains.
  • Hoodies must not be worn on the campus or at any time while wearing the Sixth Form uniform.
  • V-neck plain black jumper which shows the shirt is optional, but no roll and/or crew necks, hoodies or sweatshirts. This should be worn as well as the blazer, not instead of.
  • No t-shirts or polo shirts. No logos or vivid patterns.
  • Jackets should be blazer/suit style. No casual, leather or denim styles. Blazers must also be worn on top of a jilbab and no long blazers will be permitted. Pinafores are not permitted.
  • Skirts – skirts must be tailored and knee length. Black- or flesh-coloured tights should be worn. Knee-length socks worn with a skirt are not permitted. Socks worn with trousers/jilbab must be plain black.
  • Trousers must be a formal and business style (no flares, styles with side slits, no shorts, tracksuit bottoms, leggings, jeans or cut-off styles). Trousers must be worn around the waist, which is approximately 4cms below the belly button.
  • Jilbabs must be plain and ankle length to prevent a health and safety risk. A formal white collared shirt must be worn under the jilbabs. Jilbabs must be plain black with no sequins, designs, or logos. No bare midriffs or low tops.
  • Piercings – a small ear or nose stud may be worn but no other ear and/or facial piercings are allowed (no nose, tongue and/or eyebrow rings).
  • Hair – extreme hairstyles are not allowed and for the avoidance of doubt, unless for medical/religious reasons shaving one’s hair is deemed an extreme haircut. Patterns or logos must not be shaved or cut into hair or eyebrows. Hair must not be dyed in unnatural colours. No hair beads or hair clips are permitted.
  • Hats – no hats to be worn in the HCS building.
  • Head coverings – no head coverings to be worn, other than for religious reasons. A religious headscarf must be plain black, navy blue, or white with no designs, logos, or sequins and the student’s face must not be obscured.
  • Plain headbands may be worn to keep hair out of the face but must be slim (no more than 8cms in width), and either black, navy blue or white.
  • Face coverings – no face covering must be worn on the Sixth Form campus site and on school trips. A student’s face must be visible at all times.
  • No hats to be worn in the HCS building.
  • Footwear* – a plain black flat formal shoe must be worn. Kickers or any other type of shoe that
  • resembles trainers are not permitted. Boots are not allowed.
  • Tattoos must not be visible.
  • Make-up – minimal makeup is allowed and must be in the spirit of the Sixth Form dress code/professional work environment. We reserve the right (in our absolute discretion) to ask students to remove makeup which breaches the professional ethos of the sixth form.
  • Tattoos must not be visible.
  • ID Badges and lanyards – students are required to wear an ID badge which must be visible at all times. Where a student has lost or misplaced their ID badge, they must inform reception immediately.
  • Badges – no badges must be worn on the school uniform, bags, and coats except those awarded to students by a teacher.

* Black formal shoes must be worn as part of the uniform. For the avoidance of doubt, any Kickers and/or any other form of shoes that are casual and/or reassemble trainers are not permitted in the Sixth Form. Some businesses advertise shoes as ‘school wear’ which can resemble a trainer and these are not acceptable. If unsure whether footwear is appropriate, please email a picture to enquiries@hcs.cola.org.uk before purchasing.

Judgements on acceptability can only be made by staff at HCS. Students with inappropriate uniform, hair or makeup will not be permitted to attend lessons or participate in sixth form life until the uniform breach is remedied.