Dress codes for schools
Do schools need a staff dress code?
In short, no, but NAHT would advise schools to adopt one.
A well-worded dress code…
- Helps to set and maintain standards of professional practice enshrined in the Teachers’ Standards
- Helps pupils model how they conduct themselves in a modern school setting and helps to mirror the pupil school uniform code
- Is an ideal opportunity to engage and consult with staff and the school’s recognised trade unions, pupils too!
- Help schools comply with relevant legislation – equality, human rights and health and safety in particular.
Dress code ‘golden rules’
- Staff should be able to dress according to their professional judgement
- Be alert to cultural norms – the wearing of discreet crosses to denote a commitment to the Christian faith or a Kippah (scull-cap) to denote a commitment to the Jewish faith should be completely acceptable
- Staff should remove facial coverings while they’re on duty to optimise good communication and help to identify individual teachers
- No aspect of dress or appearance should be politically motivated, sexually provocative, discriminatory, insensitive or offensive – so, for example, if visible, tattoos must not offend others; if tattoos are likely to offend, they should be covered when staff are on duty
- On occasions, schools may relax the dress code such as outdoor/adventure visits, training days, charity days and hot weather – in these circumstances, common sense should prevail at the head teacher’s discretion
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