Uniform & Appearance
At Hinchingbrooke we believe that a school uniform gives a sense of belonging and pride in the school whilst ensuring equality amongst students. In addition, a smart appearance contributes positively to the students’ attitude to work and study; it also significantly influences how the school is portrayed to the general public.
Students must wear full school uniform (including acceptable footwear) on all school occasions and on the way to and from school. School uniform is an important feature of Hinchingbrooke School and on accepting a place for your child at the school you agree to support us in this matter.
Staff will conduct regular checks to ensure that uniform standards are maintained. So please read the guidelines for uniform and PE sports kit.
From September 2026 state funded schools in England need to limit compulsory branded uniform and PE items to a maximum of three (four if a tie is required). This new rule, introduced under the Children's Well-being and Schools Act aims to reduce uniform costs for parents and carers.
Hinchingbrooke’s compulsory uniform and PE items are indicated below with an asterisk (*). All other uniform and PE items are either optional or can be purchased from retailers other than Price & Buckland.
Uniform
Compulsory uniform and PE items are indicated below with an asterisk (*)
Blazer* Black with school badge (in House colour on breast pocket)
Skirt ‘Granite Grey’ pleated tartan skirt from Price & Buckland
Trousers Mid-Grey (not charcoal) school trousers
Shorts Mid-Grey (not charcoal) school tailored shorts
Shirt Traditional white blouse/shirt with collar to take a tie. These must be tucked into the trousers or skirt
Tie* Bottle green clip-on tie with coloured stripes to represent the year group (white, black, bronze, silver or gold stripe which progresses with the year group through the years at school) or Prefect tie (certain Year 11s only)
Jumper Long sleeved grey jumper with bottle green stripe or bottle green jumper with grey stripe from Price & Buckland (this should only be worn under the blazer except in the final half term in the Summer where blazers do not need to be worn)
Socks Plain, unbranded dark socks
Tights Plain black or natural colour tights
Shoes Plain black formal sensible leather shoes
Unacceptable Uniform
Skirts rolled over on the waistband
Trousers no hipsters, jean-style, frayed, clingy, lycra decorated or casual trousers
Jumpers only school jumpers are permitted, no hoodies or non-school jumpers. School jumpers can only be worn under the blazer, not instead of the blazer
Socks no coloured/white/patterned/sports or fluffy socks
Tights no patterned or ripped tights
Shoes Casual shoes/trainers of any kind are unacceptable. Boots, shoes with logos, symbols, flashes of colour or brand names are not acceptable
Students do not have to wear their school tie and blazer in the second half of the Summer term each academic year. However, they are not allowed to wear a replacement garment as the idea is to help students to stay cool in the warmer weather, including being able to wear their top button undone on their shirt. Students may continue to wear their tie or blazer in the second half of the Summer term if they so wish. In the case of extreme temperatures students will be allowed to wear their PE kit in place of their uniform at the Principal’s discretion.
Students whose uniform does not match requirements may not be allowed to access normal lessons or free time. No variations from, or adaptations or additions to this dress list are allowed. Persistent, open defiance of the uniform regulations will be deemed a serious breach of school discipline.
PE Kit
Compulsory uniform and PE items are indicated below with an asterisk (*)
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Unacceptable PE Kit
Shorts no skintight/lycra shorts eg NikePro or similar
Leggings not to be worn on their own, only under shorts or skorts
Socks no crew, ankle or trainer socks, only football socks which can hold a shinpad
Jewellery not to be worn during any PE lessons or fixtures
Students who have PE or Dance Period 5 do not have to change back into their uniform for the journey home if they so wish.
hair and make-up
Hair should look natural. Religious headwear is permitted – please bring in a letter from home to state this. In practical subjects (PE, Science & DT) it is essential that hair is tied up for Health & Safety reasons.
Students are allowed to wear unobtrusive make-up and nail varnish (acrylics, gels or any kind of false nail are not allowed) and false eyelashes are also not permitted. As nail varnish is not permitted in Food and Nutrition lessons, students may need to wear gloves in this lesson if they are wearing nail varnish.
jewellery
Students who wish to have additional piercings should do so at the beginning of the 6-week summer holiday to avoid any potential conflict over the removal of piercings during the school day during term time.
In practical subjects (PE, Science & DT) it is essential that jewellery is removed for Health & Safety reasons. If students need to wear an item of jewellery for medical or religious reasons, they should bring in a letter from home stating this.
Equipment
Students are expected to bring basic stationery items with them on a daily basis. All students must have at least:
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These items can be bought individually, or in a pack, from the Learning Resource Centre (LRC). Students may also need mathematical equipment such as a protractor and a compass at certain times during the year.
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Pencil |
10p |
Eraser |
10p |
Pen |
10p |
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Ruler |
15p |
Sharpener |
15p |
Calculator |
£12 |
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Protractor |
10p |
Compass |
50p |
Pencil Case |
40p |
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Exam pencil case with essential items for an exam £1.20 |
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Ties
For clarity, the students maintain the same tie for their 5 years in school.
Therefore, from September 2026 the format of ties will be:
Year 7 - Silver stripe tie
Year 8 - Gold stripe tie
Year 9 - White stripe tie
Year 10 - Black stripe tie
Year 11 - Bronze stripe tie
Year 7 in September 2026 will inherit the Silver stripe tie from the outgoing Year 11s
