Dear Parent/Carer,

New Uniform Guidance for September 2026

As part of our ongoing commitment to equity, inclusion, and poverty proofing across Gosforth Group (the Trust), we have reviewed our school uniform expectations for September 2026.

This review follows updated Department for Education guidance on the affordability of school uniforms and reflects our determination to ensure that our uniform remains accessible to all families.

To support this, we have reduced the number of items that require a school logo to the following:

• School sweatshirt with logo
• School polo shirt with logo
• School PE top with logo

We are also exploring the option of providing embroidered school logos that can be ironed or sewn onto a plain sweatshirt or polo shirt, helping to reduce costs further and offer parents greater flexibility.

In addition to the above, pupils are required to wear:

• Plain black trousers, shorts, or skirts, these must be knee length and tailored and can be purchased from any supplier
• Plain black, sensible school footwear (trainers are not permitted)

Please note that current uniform requirements remain unchanged until the end of the summer term (school coat requirement is excluded, details below).

School Coats

With immediate effect, families will no longer be required to purchase/provide a specific school coat. We understand that parents wish to choose a coat suitable for changing weather conditions, and we want to remove the need for pupils to own a separate coat exclusively for school

To ensure coats remain practical and appropriate for school, we ask that they meet the following guidance:

• Coats should be in keeping with our high expectations for standards of dress. Denim, leather, and camouflage style coats are not permitted.
• We recommend coats that are warm, waterproof, and include reflective elements to support pupil safety when travelling to and from school.
• Coats must not be worn inside the school building, and pupils should be able to store them in their school bag during the day.
• We strongly advise against purchasing expensive branded coats. Please note that the school cannot accept responsibility for loss or damage to individual items.

We hope that these changes provide greater choice and reduce financial pressure for families, while ensuring that our high standards of presentation are maintained across the Trust. Thank you, as always, for your continued support. If you have any questions, please contact the school office.

Yours sincerely,

Dr Alexandra Thorp

Chief Executive Officer, Gosforth Group