Appearance and Uniform Expectations and Rules

St Thomas of Canterbury College requires our students to wear a school uniform. This policy and the associated uniform rules are a school bylaw. The board consults with the school community when updating this policy and making or amending uniform rules. Our uniform rules outline what students can and cannot wear at school and while representing the school. These rules are made clear to students and their parents/caregivers at enrolment.

We follow school processes for managing breaches of uniform rules, which may include contacting parents/caregivers and involving senior staff. If uniform breaches are due to financial hardship, our schoolwork’s with parents/caregivers to find a solution. Students must behave appropriately while in uniform (e.g. at school, at events representing the school, and travelling to and from school).

Appearance is as follows:

• Students’ hair must be clean and tied back if it is longer than collar length. There are to be no extreme hair styles (mullets, mohawks etc) and colours.

• Students facial hair must be clean shaven.

• Jewellery items (culturally significant items such as a cross necklace or taonga) must be approved by the Pastoral and Senior Leadership team.

• Ear piercings can only be one plain stud (ear) and no other visible body piercings i.e ear, eyebrow and nose.

• Visible cultural tattoos must be approved by the Pastoral and Senior Leadership team, while non cultural tattoos are not permitted.

Uniform Criteria:

Every student in years 9-13 are required to wear full school uniform to and from school and when representing the school at external events i.e. sport, arts.  Hats must be St Thomas school branded hats and are only to be worn at break times when outside. The school uniform is as follows:  

• Blazer, STC school shirt (long or short sleeve), STC school tie, STC navy blue jersey.

• STC shorts, trousers or ie lavalava

• STC school socks if wearing shorts.

• Black leather shoes or roman sandals (if wearing shorts or ie lavalava). No Nike branded leather shoes or birkenstocks.

The following images are our school uniform options: