School Uniform

Instructions for ordering uniform 

The only item of uniform that will be available to purchase from the academy will be a tie.  This can be purchased from the academy reception at a cost of £7.50.

To order all other uniform and for uniform queries, please visit www.oneidentity.co.uk

Or telephone Identity on 01229 823584 where they will be pleased to help you

When first using their website, you will need to register as a customer.  This can be done by clicking on the ‘Sign In’ tab and clicking on ‘Register now’ where you will complete a registration template.  Please remember your details as you will need to use them whenever you next log in to the website.

In order to start ordering, click on ‘Senior Shop’ at the top of the page, or under the Categories at the left hand side of the page and click on the West Lakes Academy logo.  All our uniform will then be displayed, and it is a case of following through the order as with other internet shopping.

Please note we have 2 new items of uniform; a girls’ fitted style PE polo top and a unisex hoody which may be worn only for P.E.  You have the choice to add your child’s surname only to the back of the hoody for an additional £3.00.  We are sorry but we cannot permit nicknames or forenames to be used.

The compulsory items that you can only buy from Identity remain the same; a blazer, a tie, and a PE top (this does not include the hoody).  Other items which are not compulsory but must be purchased from Identity are the PE hoody, PE skort and knitwear.  All other items such as trousers and shirts can be bought from any supplier you choose, as long as they conform to our uniform policy. No other supplier is entitled to use our logo, sell our blazers, ties, knitwear, PE tops, PE hoody or PE skort.

When you have chosen your items and are ready to buy, click on:

  • ‘Display basket’
  • ‘Check out’ and follow the screens through the ‘Realex Payments’ screen (ensure to tick the general terms and conditions box.)
  • if you are ordering a hoody and wish to add your child’s surname on the back please add it in the ‘order and delivery comments’ box.
  • click on Buy now, and complete the payment process.

If you have any difficulty, please phone Identity on 01229 823584, or email them at admin@identity.co.uk.  Please do not email or phone the academy for ordering queries.

Orders will be dispatched to the academy where they will be distributed on a weekly basis.  Please allow 10 days for your order to arrive.

Uniform can be ordered at any time of year, but a full day sales event will also be held at the academy in June each year.  Details of the date and arrangements will be available nearer the time.

School uniform

Families join West Lakes Academy because it is outstanding; it provides the best care and education for the community. Our students are extremely smart and we place the highest regard on their personal presentation and therefore the way they wear the uniform. We value the full support that parents / carers give the academy in ensuring that their child meets the uniform expectations and we expect our students to be in full uniform each day.

Students will be removed from lessons if they are not wearing the correct uniform or their hairstyle, makeup or jewellery does not meet with academy expectations.  Parents/carers and/or students should check with the academy before purchasing items or colouring/styling hair if they are unsure of whether the item/hairstyle/hair colour will meet with academy expectations.  The Principal’s decision is final.

West Lakes Academy Uniform Policy 

Our expectations are clarified below.

Skirt: Skirts should be black, knee length and worn with black opaque tights.  The hem of the skirt should lie / remain on the knee at all times. Body-con skirts are not to be worn.

Trousers:   Trousers must be straight-legged and be plain black material only, i.e. no tapering (getting thinner) or flaring (widening) towards the ankle. Trousers that are skinny fit/skin tight, denim, made of heavy cotton material, contain Lycra, or similar stretchy / elastic fabric that would cause them to look skin tight/tapered or with logos are not acceptable.   Trousers should not have additional buttons / zips / sequins / rips / studs / poppers / makers’ labels or names on them.

Belt:  Plain black only. Belt buckles should be discreet.

Shirt: Plain white shirt with collar (not fitted, tailored or blouses). Both long sleeved and short-sleeved are acceptable. No logos are allowed on shirts.  Shirts should be worn with all buttons done up and also be tucked in properly to trousers/skirts.

Tie:  West Lakes Academy year group tie. Ties should be worn with the knot covering the collar button of shirts and a minimum of 4 full stripes should be visible below the knot.

Blazer:  Black eco blazer with academy logo.

Tights: Plain black opaque only.

Socks:  Plain black only (no trainer socks.)

Footwear:  Formal black shoes only. Sandals, backless shoes, boots, plimsolls, or black trainers are not acceptable.

Coats: Coats/other jumpers/scarves are not permitted to be worn in the building during the school day.  These must be stored in the lockers provided, or securely in bags.

Hair:  Extreme styles of hair are unacceptable. This may include: unnatural colours (for example red/plum/purple tinted), two tone/dip-dye hair, shaved lines, and shaved patterns, complete shaving of the head (classed as grade 1 or below), and any undercutting. Distinct changes in length (non-graduated) are permissible. However the style should remain more formal i.e. presented in a neat style at all times.   Styles such as Mohicans, Mohawks, long spiking up of hair on top of the head or similar are classed as extreme styles and not permitted.  If you are in any doubt please contact your child’s head of year before getting hair cut/styled.  The above are all examples, the lists are not exhaustive.

The academy’s decision is final which is why we would always advise discussion with staff before any significant change of style is made.

Jewellery:  For safety reasons, only one pair of small (<3mm) plain metal (silver or gold) stud earrings can be worn.  One ring is allowed. Nose studs, tongue studs and all other forms of body piercing are forbidden in the academy and must be removed before entering the academy. If worn, these will be confiscated by staff and returned at the end of the day.

Religious Observance: Head coverings should be plain black.

Makeup: Makeup should be discreet. Nail varnish, false nails and/or nail art are not to be worn. False eyelashes are also not permitted. Students who are deemed to be wearing too much make up will be asked to remove it immediately. False tan is not appropriate or acceptable for school and is not inline with our expectations. If this is required for an external event please make contact with the relevant Head of Year. The academy reserves the right to make this decision.

PE Kit:

  • Unisex academy PE shirt, choice of short or long sleeves
  • Black shorts
  • Black skort (female)
  • Black socks
  • *NEW* PE hoody (optional)

For information: In every PE lesson, students are required to remove all items of jewellery. This includes earrings and watches. Earring tape is not considered acceptable to cover piercings; the earring must be taken out.

The academy will provide aprons in science, technology and art to protect the uniform in these subject areas.

Post 16 students

At the beginning of each academic year every student in Year 12 and 13 will receive a letter outlining their sixth form pathway and our expectations including the latest guidance on uniform.  A summary is provided below.

A young person’s dress and appearance are matters of personal choice and self-expression and some individuals will wish to exercise their own cultural customs. However, Post 16 Students should select a manner of dress and appearance appropriate to the environment and their role and this may be different to that adopted in their personal life. Students should ensure they are dressed decently, safely and appropriately.

Post 16 Students in our academy are expected to wear clothing and accessories which:

  • promote a positive and professional image;
  • do not create a risk to either the wearer or others in the academy and is appropriate;
  • are not likely to be viewed as offensive or revealing,
  • does not distract, cause embarrassment or give rise to misunderstanding;
  • is absent of any political or otherwise contentious slogans;
  • is not considered to be discriminatory;
  • Hair should be neat, tidy and well-groomed. Unconventional styles and extreme and unnatural hair colours are not acceptable.
  • Jewellery must not be excessive or unconventional, with visible piercings limited to ears. Single nose studs may be worn for reasons of religious observance only.