It is a Sixth Form privilege not to wear school uniform. The school expects that you will dress suitably and avoid extremes of fashion. Many outsiders judge the school by the appearance of its Sixth Formers and younger students look to the Sixth Form students as role models. If you have to stop and think about whether what you are wearing is suitable, then it is probably not!

The dress code is reviewed annually, and the following has been agreed for the academic year 2024-2025.

Rules

The following represent the expected dress in sixth form:

• Suit or smart trousers, blazer and a shirt and tie for boys.
• A dress or smart skirt/trousers with a blouse, shirt or formal top for girls with a blazer.
• Smart, sensible heeled, closed toe footwear should be worn.
• Religious dress is permitted subject to health and safety requirements.
• Identity badges/lanyards at all times.

It is always important to be mindful of the length of a skirt, depth of neckline and the sheerness of your clothes. Dresses and skirts must be of an appropriate length – not more than a third of the way up from the middle of the knee.

The following SHOULD NOT be worn:

• Crop tops, excessively tight tops, low neckline or vest style tops. Strappy singlet tops and shirts that reveal the midriff or any underwear are not permitted to be worn.
• Leggings, unless under an appropriate length dress or skirt.
• Shorts.
• Denim, combat, cargo, corduroy or jean-type trousers.
• Skirts/dresses more than a third of the way up from the knee including bodycon style mini skirts.
• Casual summer, beach style clothing or any clothing with offensive slogans or advertising.
• Clothing that would contravene any health and safety regulations of The Abbey School.
• Transparent garments.
• Trainers (except for practical subjects), flip flops, beach crocs and Birkenstock sandals etc. Open ‘sandal’ style shoes are not acceptable (health and safety consideration).
• Nose, lip, tongue or brow studs - clear/flesh coloured retainer worn
• Tattoos, wherever possible, should not be exposed and those containing offensive language or images must be covered at all times.
• Non-natural hair colour tones with no extreme styling.
• Cardigans instead of blazers (a cardigan can be worn underneath a blazer).

On formal occasions where you are representing the school you will be required to wear a smart suit or formal attire. Examples of this would be major school events, awards evenings or showing visitors around the school.

Those students who take Performing Arts must wear the appropriate items as outlined by the Performing Arts department.

Football Academy students are expected to dress as above or can wear clean Dover Athletic Football Academy training kit.

These requirements are not exhaustive in defining acceptable and unacceptable standards of dress and appearance and students should consult with the Director of Sixth Form in advance of wearing any item of which they are unsure.

Students will be asked to remove any items which are not deemed acceptable dress; where this is not possible students will be sent to the Director of Sixth Form/Assistant Head for KS5 who will send them home to change. If plausible, they will then be expected to return to the school for the remainder of the school day. Students will be expected to make up the time lost in school for this.

Mobile Phones and earphones

Mobile phones are to be turned-off and are expressly banned from all use around the school site and should be out of sight at all times including in lessons. Similarly, earphones should not be worn once on the school site. The only exception to this rule is where students are within the Sixth Form Centre. Earphones can be used in Directed Study.

We all (including staff) need to be effective role models to our younger students, hence this rule. As a member of the Sixth Form you also accept that your phone will be confiscated for the day should you engage in inappropriate mobile phone use. Failure to comply will result in a fixed term exclusion.