Letter to Parents and Carers: Planned Uniform Consultation for September 2027
Wed 01 Jul 2026
Dear Parents and Carers,
I write to share with you our plans to consult with students, parents, carers and families over the potential removal of skirts from the uniform for Outwood Academy Shafton for September 2027, moving to a trouser only uniform.
Our Commitment to Consultation
We understand that school uniform is an important topic for our community. I want to reassure you that no final decision has been made. We are committed to a full and open consultation process during the 2026/27 academic year, to thoroughly understand any concerns, questions, or feedback that our students and families may have.
We want to hear from you. In September, we will provide opportunities for parents, carers, and students to share their views through:
- An online feedback survey (link to follow)
- Student voice and wider student discussion groups
- Dedicated parent drop-in sessions
Details on how to participate in these discussions will be shared in September.
Practical Advice for Uniform Purchasing
While any potential changes would not come into effect until September 2027, we want to give you as much advance notice as possible. We highly recommend factoring this ongoing consultation into your uniform decisions over the next year.
Please keep the following in mind:
- General Purchasing: When replacing worn-out or outgrown uniform items over the next 12 months, you may want to consider purchasing trousers to ensure long-term use.
- Incoming Year 7 Students (September 2026): If your child is joining us this coming September , we strongly advise exchanging skirts for trousers within bundles at Exchange events. This ensures that their uniform items will remain compliant for the duration of their use, should the proposed change be approved for 2027.
Thank you in advance for your engagement and partnership as we work together to ensure our school uniform policy best serves all of our students.
Yours faithfully,
Alison McQueen
Principal