At Westbourne Academy, we believe the smartness of our students adds to the academy prestige and encourages a positive attitude to work. All students are expected to wear the correct uniform and take pride in their presentation. Form Tutors will check the students in their Tutor Time daily to ensure all students are correctly dressed and properly equipped.

BEING SMART
Uniform helps people feel they belong and are part of a community.

Our uniform may be purchased from PMG Schoolwear in Ipswich town centre.  Click on the image below to access their website page. House ties are available to purchase from school via School Money.

PMG Schoolwear

PMG Schoolwear, 40 Westgate Street Ipswich  IP1 3ED

Tel. 01473 212050 ipswich@pmgretail.co.uk

In line with the latest government guidance, PMG’s stores are currently open in store and online.

Visit PMG Schoolwear Website

You can read their handy tips, measuring tips and size guide for buying school uniform here:

https://www.pmgschoolwear.co.uk/size-guide.php

First time users will need to create an account with an email and password. If you do not have a valid email then please telephone their customer services team on 01895 809 321.

All orders will be despatched by Royal Mail Package Post. Postage will be calculated according to the total weight of the order. This ensures customers are not penalised for ordering just one small item such as a tie. Details of their current delivery charges can be found on their website page https://www.pmgschoolwear.co.uk/delivery-info.php

 

NOTE:  We keep a stock of House ties in school, they available to  buy on School Money in ‘The Shop’ for £6 and your child can collect them from the admin office next to the food hall on A corridor at break or lunch.

In school we retain a complete set of uniform items for sizing purposes.  To avoid you ordering the incorrect size and then having to pay for the return postage, students will be able to try on samples to determine the correct size required.  Students will be able to do this at break time and at parent consultation evenings. In the first instance, students will need to speak to their House Pastoral Lead.

We have a clear set of standards which we expect all our students to follow. You can see them here: WA Uniform Standards November 2023

Academy Uniform: Charcoal Grey Trousers

The academy uniform requires that students wear charcoal grey trousers, which are dark grey (charcoal) in colour.  Often, we are told by parents/carers that it is not always easy to find a shop to purchase trousers in this colour. We also continue to face the challenge that some students wear trousers that are skinny fit and too tight. Having visited a range of shops and websites, it is clear that retailers can be misleading when they sell school trousers. They advertise ‘school trousers’, when it is clear that the style is not appropriate for school wear.

We are keen to standardise the trousers that students wear so they are more uniform across the academy. We spend a lot of time dealing with trousers that are the wrong colour, the wrong type of material or are too tight. This is predominately an issue with girls, although some boys have ill-fitting trousers. Some academies have addressed this issue by standardising the trousers students wear, insisting that they are bought from the same supplier for all students. We are not keen to do this because this approach will increase the financial burden on some parents. We have therefore decided to give parents/carers more guidance on where they can purchase suitable school trousers, from a range of retailers.

If you are ever unsure whether you are purchasing suitable trousers, always ask, to avoid a wasted purchase.

If you choose to purchase your child’s school trousers from a different supplier, please ensure that the side hem at the bottom of the leg measures at least 17cm wide on each side and the fabric is cotton/polyester.

Supplier Style of Trousers Bottom hem  side width Cost £
Coe’s Ipswich Regular school trousers Girls 20cm

Boy 21.5cm

1 pair £20

1 pair £24/£25

Price & Buckland

Website

Regular school trousers Girls 18.5 cm

Boys 21.5 cm

From £13.95
Marks & Spencer’s

shop and website

Regular trousers, not skinny leg or slim fit Girls 18 cm

Boys 19cm

1 pair £8- £12

2 pairs for £17

Primark Not a good selection
Asda shop and website. Regular trousers, not slim or skinny fit Unisex 19cm 2 pairs from £11
PMG School Wear Regular school trousers Boys

Girls

 From £15.99

From £17.99

To help you select the right size for your child, you can use this:

Guide to sizing and measuring

During term time, students can try on uniform items in school at break time by speaking with their respective House Pastoral Lead.

Form Tutors will note on SIMS any uniform or equipment infringements.

Serious or repeated breaches of the uniform code will be referred to the appropriate Head of House/Pastoral Lead to be rectified. The Pastoral Lead may send students home to correct their uniform and return back to school as quickly as possible (contact will be made with parents before sending any student home).

Students will be advised in school when hot weather rules apply for the summer term, this is usually sometime after Easter but is dependent on the prevailing weather. They are as follows:

  • Students do not need to wear their jumpers to school when hot weather rules apply.
  • Jackets and ties must be worn when moving around the school buildings and between lessons. Jackets may be removed when in lessons.
  • Jackets, jumpers and ties may be removed when students are outside at break times and lunch times.

Students are advised to bring refillable water bottles and to sip water regularly. Water bottles (both printed and plain) are available to buy via School Money. There are a number of water fountains around the school (these provide chilled and filtered, mains-fed water) and students can access these outside of lesson times.  Water bottles should be clear and should contain water – no fizzy drinks, cans, or energy drinks are permitted in school.