This procedure outlines issues that principals need to consider in developing, documenting and implementing student dress codes in Queensland State schools.
Statement of intent
A student dress code consists of an agreed standard and items of clothing, which may or may not include a school uniform that State school students wear when:
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attending or representing their school;
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travelling to and from school; and
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engaging in school activities out of school hours.
Student dress codes provide clothing that aims to contribute to a safe and supportive teaching and learning environment through:
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ready identification of students and non-students at school;
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fostering a sense of belonging; and
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developing mutual respect among students by minimising visible evidence of economic or social differences.
Student dress codes reflect school community standards and are consistent with occupational health and safety and anti-discrimination legislation and the Sun Safety Strategy.
Student dress codes clearly explain and document standards of acceptable or reasonable dress in relation to:
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Clothing worn by students, including headwear and footwear; and
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Other aspects of personal presentation of students.
Acceptable or reasonable dress refers to clothing or apparel that would be socially acceptable, although it might not conform to the school's student dress code. Inappropriate dress refers to clothing or apparel worn by students that is deemed to be:
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Offensive;
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Likely to disrupt, or negatively influence normal school operations;
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Unsafe for student or others; and
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Likely to result in a risk to health and safety of student or others.
Student dress codes incorporate strategies to accommodate special needs and circumstances of students and strategies for managing non-complying students. A student's non-compliance with school's student dress code requirements is not grounds for suspension, exclusion, or cancellation of enrolment from school. For behaviour other than non-compliance with student dress code, principals follow actions outlined in the SMS-PR-021: Safe, Supportive and Disciplined School Environment.
Schools with dress codes impose sanctions on a once only basis per episode of non-compliance. Sanctions are reflective of the severity and recentness of the non-compliance and are limited to one of the following:
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Imposing a detention for a student during lunch or after school (if after school, inform parents before detention occurs);
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Preventing student from attending, or participating in, any activity for which student is representing school; or
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Preventing student from attending or participating in any school activity that is not an essential school educational program.
Schools provide their Student Dress Code policy to parents at the time of enrolment as part of the Enrolment Package (new window) 53k 
.
Responsibilities
Principals:
1. In developing a student dress code:
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Consult with parents or carers of children enrolled at their school, school staff and students;
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Consider consistency with relevant legislation, both State and Commonwealth;
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Incorporate issues of availability, affordability and functionality of items of clothing;
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Consider maturity of students, gender, disability, religious and cultural beliefs, socio-economic circumstances and students' sense of individuality and self-esteem in personal appearance;
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Develop a process for managing special circumstances of particular students;
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Develop and document strategies and sanctions for managing students not complying with dress code requirements; and
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Enforce aspects of student dress codes related to safety such as:
2. In resolving matters of student dress codes, consider:
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Mobile families requiring sufficient time to purchase items of dress;
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Economic hardship requiring special arrangements, or an extended period of time, to purchase new items of dress;
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Students with physical impairments requiring greater flexibility in interpretation of dress codes; and
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Conscientious objections, for example objections raised on any reasonable religious or cultural grounds.
3. Develop a system that provides:
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Exemption processes (e.g. an exemption card);
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Alternative arrangements for a set period of time upon receipt of written request from parent; and
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Opportunities to wear relevant items of dress code from a bank of items held at school.
4. Resolve conflict:
Where there are individual cases of conflict with student dress codes, or persistent failure of a student to uphold the code, or a student is inappropriately dressed:
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Offer appropriate item/s from a bank of clothing/uniforms held at school;
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Take action that prevents risk to student or others, or action that maintains normal school operations;
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Inform student's parents or carers of incident and discuss further with parents or carers, representatives of school and student to prevent a recurrence; and
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Implement a process of conflict resolution or mediation if student persistently wears inappropriate dress after discussions have been held with parents or carers.
Where a student is reasonably dressed, but does not conform to student dress code, principals:
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Offer appropriate item/s from bank of clothing/uniforms held at school;
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Inform parents or carers of incident and, if necessary, discuss further; and
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Use, together with representatives of school community, appropriate conflict-resolution or mediation if student persistently fails to observe student dress code.
5. Develop sanctions for non-complying students ensuring that students are not:
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Excluded, suspended, or at risk of having their enrolment cancelled for not complying with student dress codes;
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Given any sanction that damages their academic or external career prospects such as negative mentions in references or school reports;
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Prevented from continued participation in essential curriculum activities, except where necessary for reasons of safety (in which case, alternative educational activities are provided); and
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Disadvantaged where required dress code items are not available because of circumstances beyond their control.
6. Monitor and evaluate the code via:
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Making available a copy of student dress code (written and/or electronically) for inspection, free of charge, by interested persons at administration office and school's webpage;
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Reviewing and evaluating student dress code periodically for any issues, appropriateness or enhancements in consultation with students, parents, staff, parent and citizens association; and
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Advising students, staff, parents/carers and parents and citizens association of any changes or amendments to student dress code in writing before changes are implemented.
7. In arrangements with clothing suppliers:
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Ensure compliance with departmental procedures relating to
fair trade;
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Use appropriate
Deed of Licence (new window) when licencing a manufacturer to reproduce the school logo for the purpose of manufacturing uniforms or to restrict the retailers to whom the licensed manufacturers can supply the uniforms.
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Ensure notification and communication of any proposed change to school uniforms early in a school year preceding such a change, to all parents and if practicable, all retailers concerned so that school uniform shops and others with significant stocks of uniforms can replace or prepare for the changes; and
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Guidelines
Considerations in Developing Student Dress Codes
Principals design a consultation and implementation strategy that outlines:
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Roles and responsibilities of parties involved such as parents, carers, school staff, students, and Parent and Citizens Association;
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Timelines; and
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Trial periods for displaying items of uniform or clothing for feedback.
Principals may ask Parents and Citizens Associations to formally endorse student dress codes before implementation. Some suggested paragraphs are as follows:
The P & C of..... State School (or..... State High School) resolves that it supports a student dress code for..... State (High) School because it believes that a student dress code at..... State (High) School promotes objectives of Education (General Provisions) Act 2006.
In particular, the P & C of..... supports the intention of a student dress code in providing a safe and supportive teaching and learning environment by:
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ready identification of students and non-students at school;
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eliminating distraction of competition in dress and fashion at school;
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fostering a sense of belonging; and
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developing mutual respect among students through minimising visible evidence of economic or social differences.
Contacts
For information on student dress code, contact:
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