Dear Parents/Carers,
I write further to Mrs Anwar’s letter to you dated 30 April where she highlighted the changes to the PE uniform from September 2021 following our consultation with parents and students.
In response to your comments to us about the school uniform, particularly the PE kit, we agreed to the changes to the kit as below. I am sure you will see from the information in this letter that we are offering a much more cost effective and more accessible kit without compromising on the quality, consistency and high standards. For your convenience I have provided images of the new kit against the existing kit and the cost savings.
Previous Compulsory Items
New Compulsory Items
Cost Saving
costs £24.00 – £33.00
Strood logo polo shirt £14.50 – £17.50
£9.50 – £15.50
£18.00 – £25.00
Strood logo shorts £7.00 – £8.50
£11.00 – £16.50
£18.00 – £25.00
Strood logo leggings £14.00 – £18.00
£4.00 – £7.00
Students will be required to have the above PE Sports top and wear either shorts or leggings. Should your child wish to wear tracksuit bottoms or a sweatshirt, we do now offer these optional additional items. In order to ensure consistency, avoid confusion and so that students do not feel obliged to wear expensive branded clothing students will not be permitted to wear any other tracksuit bottoms or jumpers.
Optional Sports Tracksuit bottoms – £19.00
Outdoor Sweatshirt – £11.50
Please note other kit that is required but does not need to be branded includes:
Plain white or black trainers
Plain white Sports socks
* Please note that a discreet logo is permitted.
I am pleased to share some of the feedback we received from students and parents:
- The new design is preferred to the current kit.
- The new kit looks smarter.
- The new kit is less expensive which is important.
- The students liked the consistency of the kit having the Strood Academy logo and the lack of room for manoeuvre in terms of being able to wear alternative items.
- Students were excited to be able to wear the new kit when representing the academy at sporting events.
- The students liked the fact that there is a choice of bottoms.
The expectation is that all Year 7 students joining us in September 2021 will purchase the new PE kit.
From September 2022, all students in other year groups will be expected to wear the new kit for PE. Students currently in years 7-10 may continue to wear their existing PE kit during the next academic year September 2021 – July 2022 and should purchase the new kit when replacing items.
In addition to the change in the PE kit, from September there will be a choice to wear the existing blue striped blouse or an alternative plain pale blue blouse as part of the girls uniform. You may wish to consider this when purchasing new items of uniform for September.
Thank you for your ongoing support.
Mr Knight
Vice Principal
