At St Charles Catholic Primary School, we are committed to keeping our uniform affordable, practical and accessible for all families. Our uniform requirements have been reviewed in line with the Department for Education’s guidance on the cost of school uniform and the new requirements applying from September 2026.

High standards of school uniform reflect our expectations for good behaviour, responsibility and respect. Wearing the correct uniform promotes pride, belonging, equality and a strong sense of identity within our school community, while helping children feel ready and prepared for their learning each day.

Parents and carers are expected to send their children to School wearing the appropriate uniform as listed below and as agreed in the Home/School Agreement Form.

School Uniform

Boys’ Uniform-Reception to Year 6

• St Charles navy blue V-neck jumper – compulsory branded item
• St Charles school tie – compulsory branded item
• St Charles school backpack – compulsory branded item
• White shirt
• Grey trousers or, in summer, optional grey shorts 
• Grey/Black socks
• Smart black school shoes – no boots or trainers

Girls’ Uniform-Reception to Year 6

• St Charles navy blue V-neck cardigan – compulsory branded item
• St Charles school tie – compulsory branded item
• St Charles school backpack – compulsory branded item
• White blouse/shirt
• Navy blue skirt or pinafore
• Blue and white checked summer dress (no culottes)
• White socks or grey/navy tights
• Smart black school shoes – no boots or trainers

Nursery Uniform

• St Charles navy blue sweatshirt – compulsory branded item
• White polo shirt
• Navy blue tracksuit bottoms
• Sensible black school shoes – no laces

Nursery children do not wear a PE kit. The school coat requirements are the same as for all other pupils.

School Coat

Children may wear either:
• St Charles school jacket – optional branded item, or
• Plain navy or black coat or jacket

School Backpack

• St Charles school backpack for Reception to Year 6 – compulsory branded item

PE Kit

• Plain white T-shirt or St Charles white PE T-shirt
• Navy blue shorts
• Plimsolls or trainers
• Navy tracksuit bottoms– weather dependent and required on cooler days

The St Charles PE T-shirt is optional. A plain white T-shirt is an acceptable alternative. 

Children are expected to wear their PE kits to school on their PE days.

Hair Accessories and Jewellery

All shoulder length or longer hair must be tied up at all times. Only stud earrings are permitted – no hooped or dangly earrings. Children may wear an inexpensive watch (please note that ‘smart watches’ of any description are not allowed).

Swimming

Children in Key Stage 2 will need:

• Swimming costume or swimming trunks
• Goggles
• Swimming cap
• Towel

Swimming items do not need to be branded. NOT all children in Key Stage 2 swim every year- a letter will go out to the children involved regarding swimming requirements and any update to this information.

Optional St Charles Items

The following St Charles-branded items are available for families who wish to purchase them but are not compulsory:

• St Charles school jacket
• St Charles PE T-shirt
• St Charles PE bag
• St Charles book bag
• St Charles navy fleece
• St Charles woolly hat
• St Charles baseball cap
• St Charles water bottle

Where a branded item is optional, families may purchase a suitable unbranded alternative in keeping with the school uniform.

Where to Buy Uniform

Compulsory branded items and optional St Charles-branded items are available through our school uniform supplier, Stitchdesign.

Generic items such as shirts, blouses, trousers, shorts, skirts, socks, tights and PE kit may be purchased from a retailer of your choice. 

Generic items should be plain, suitable for school and in the specified colour and style.

Families are encouraged to compare prices and choose good-quality, durable and affordable items.

Pre-Loved Uniform

St Charles Catholic Primary School is committed to making school uniform as affordable as possible for families and to reducing unnecessary waste. Our St Charles Pre-Loved Uniform Scheme is run by the St Charles PFA. The PFA holds regular Pre-Loved Uniform Sales throughout the school year, offering good-quality, outgrown school uniform and PE kit at affordable prices.

Sales are advertised through the school newsletter and PFA communications. Additional arrangements are made before the start of each academic year so that families joining St Charles, as well as existing families, have the opportunity to obtain pre-loved uniform in good time.

How can I buy pre-loved uniform?

Details of sales will be shared with families through the school newsletter and other PFA communications. If parents/carers wish to purchase pre-loved uniform at other times, they can contact the school office to make an appointment.

How can I donate uniform?

We welcome donations of clean, good-quality outgrown St Charles uniform and PE kit.  Donations can be placed in the Pre-Loved Uniform Collection Point in the school office.  All proceeds from sales are retained by the St Charles PFA and used to support activities, resources and opportunities for pupils. By choosing pre-loved uniform, families can save money, reduce waste and help good-quality clothing remain in use within our school community.

Weather and Individual Circumstances

The school may make reasonable temporary adjustments to uniform expectations in response to extreme or adverse weather.

We will also consider reasonable adjustments where a pupil has a disability, medical need, religious or belief requirement, or other individual circumstance that affects their ability to comply with the uniform requirements.  Any adjustments will be considered sensitively and in accordance with the school’s legal duties.

Uniform Expectations

All items of clothing should be clearly labelled with your child’s full name.

Children should come to school wearing the correct uniform and have the appropriate PE or swimming kit when required. We expect uniform to be clean, safe, suitable for school and worn appropriately.

We recognise that families may sometimes experience financial difficulties in meeting the cost of school uniform or PE kit. Parents and carers who are struggling to purchase any aspect of the required uniform are encouraged to contact the school office or speak directly with the Head of School/Assistant Head in confidence as soon as possible.

Attendance and access to education will always remain our priority. The school will work with families to identify appropriate support, which may include access to pre-loved uniform, signposting to local support services, or other assistance where available.

Policy Review

This policy will be reviewed annually by the governing body to ensure that it remains affordable, practical, inclusive and compliant with current legislation and Department for Education guidance.

Any significant changes to the uniform requirements will be communicated to families in advance.