Uniform

Rainham Mark Grammar School

Uniform & Appearance Expectations 2025-2026

Parents and carers can obtain most of our uniform from high-street retailers. The few branded items we request can be purchased from School Time in Chatham or Monkhouse online.

The school also runs a second-hand uniform bank or items can be found at Street Angels in Rainham High Street.

School Time opening hours are Monday-Saturday 9am-5pm

Monkhouse is online only https://www.monkhouse.com/

OUR VISION

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Aspiration

We value each student as an individual and want them to be equipped with the skills and academic qualifications to support themselves and make their own well-informed and aspirational decisions.

We celebrate talent and encourage every student to become involved in the co-curricular life of the school.

We lay the foundations for every student to grow in confidence, resilience and become the best version of themselves.

Respect

The RMGS Spirit is empathetic, welcoming and relentlessly respectful without exception.

We promote social justice, charity and community engagement that fosters a genuine respect for others and the natural world.

We foster a strong sense of belonging through encouraging our students to listen carefully to other people’s views and to seek to understand and respect different lifestyles, cultures and beliefs.

Curiosity

We celebrate scholarship and a lifelong love of learning.

We cultivate curiosity within our students to encourage them to be curious about the world and have the courage to be change agents for a better society.

We encourage students to articulate their ideas, thoughts and beliefs with conviction, challenge injustice and advocate for themselves and others.

Happiness

We support our students to develop the courage to pursue happiness.

We understand that all of our students can achieve when they have resilience, can learn from their mistakes and have the confidence to ask for help.

We foster self-care, care of others, a healthy lifestyle and the development of strong community networks at a range of scales.

Item	Description
Rainham Mark Grammar School blazer with logo	Black with school logo. Available @ School Time or Monkhouse online shop
RMGS school tie	Black with red stripes. Available @ School Time or Monkhouse online shop
T-shirt with RMGS logo	Red with RMGS log. Available @ School Time or Monkhouse online shop
Red ¼ zip sweatshirt with RMGS logo or red hoodie with RMGS logo	Red with RMGS logo. Available @ School Time or Monkhouse online shop
Optional RMGS V- neck with red stripe (grey for yr 7-9; black for yr 10-11)	Black with red stripe around the V. Available @ School Time or Monkhouse online shop
Grey skirt with RMGS logo	Available @ School Time or Monkhouse online shop

Plain white button up shirt with collar

Must be worn with a tie

Black school trousers

No skinny fit or flares

Our school’s legal duties under The Equality Act 2010 prohibits discrimination against an individual based on the protected characteristics, which include sex, race, religion or belief, and gender reassignment.

To avoid discrimination, our school will:

Avoid listing uniform items based on sex, to give all pupils the opportunity to wear the uniform they feel most comfortable in or that most reflects their self-identified gender.

Make sure that our uniform costs the same for all pupils

Allow all pupils to have long hair (though we reserve the right to ask for this to be tied back);

Allow all pupils to style their hair in the way that is appropriate for school yet makes them feel comfortable

Allow pupils to request changes to swimwear for religious reasons

Allow pupils to wear headscarves and other religious or cultural symbols

Allow for adaptations to our policy on the grounds of equality by asking pupils or their parents to get in touch with the pastoral team who can answer questions about the policy and respond to any requests

Expectations for school uniform

Please wear your uniform neatly: shirts tucked in and top button done up, wear school tie. Uniform should be clean and tidy.

Years 7 cohort black blazer with school badge and tutor group flash (flash is provided by the school)
Black trousers (not skinny fit)
white button up shirt with collar (not polo shirt) with official clip-on tie/colours tie

Grey, knee length or below, branded skirt with white button up shirt and tie
Black, white or dark grey socks with trousers; black, white or dark grey ankle or knee-high socks or plain black opaque tights with a skirt
Black leather/leather-look shoes with a flat defined heel.
No branding, no boots, sandals, trainers or plimsolls.

Lanyard in the correct colour for Year Group

Optional RMGS V-necked jumper (grey for Years 7-9, black for years 10 and 11). No sweatshirts, designer label pullovers, or hoodies.

Jumpers must not be worn in place of a blazer

Acceptable

NOT Acceptable

Casual shoes, not leather. Boot style, logo, casual shoe not black. Sports shoe, trainer in style. Casual.

Hybrid shoes. Too casual. Nike Air Force. Too casual

PE Kit – all students will need the following:

Red T-shirt with RMGS logo
Plain black shorts (mid-thigh or longer, but no cycling shorts)/leggings/tracksuit bottoms/skirt
White short socks
Plain black football socks
Shin pads
Trainers (non-marking soles)
PE bag

Optional PE items

Plain black thermal base layer
Red ¼ zip jumper with RMGS logo
Football boots (purchase these as advised by PE staff)
A towel
Please provide white plimsolls for gym/dance if your child has a foot infection (not trainers), otherwise bare feet

Expectations for PE kit

All should be clean
Clearly labelled with the child's name
In good condition
Stored in a sensible bag

Subject-specific items

Calico apron - for craft

Accessories and appearance

The following are permitted:

One small ear stud in each ear (no rings, hoops or spacers)
One small nose stud (no rings, hoops, circular barbells, nose bones, captive bead rings)
An analogue watch
Religious headwear in keeping with school colours
Religious or cultural jewellery (as agreed with the school)
Hair worn appropriately for school activities
Natural nails of an appropriate length for school activities (no acrylics/fakes/gels)
Natural-looking eyelashes
Discreet make-up

Items of jewellery must be removed for PE.

Outer garments

Coats can be any colour
Beanies, scarves and gloves may be worn around the school, but not indoors
Cardigans are not school uniform
Hooded sweatshirts (“hoodies”) are not an acceptable alternative to either pullovers or outer garments in place of a coat
School bags need to be large enough to carry a number of A4 size folders and textbooks. No handbags and should not be a drawstring bag unless used for PE kit

Where to purchase uniform

Parents and carers can obtain most of our uniform from high-street retailers. The few branded items we request can be purchased from School Time in Chatham 01634 831684 or Monkhouse online school shop 0161 476 7216 https://www.monkhouse.com/

Second-hand uniform

The school runs a second-hand uniform bank or items can be found at Street Angels in Rainham High Street.

Expectations for our school community

Pupils are expected to wear the correct uniform at all times (other than specified non-school uniform days) while:
On the school premises
Travelling to and from school
At out-of-school events or on trips that are organised by the school, or where they are representing the school

Pupils are also expected to contact their Head of Year if they want to request an amendment to the uniform policy in relation to their protected characteristics.

Parents and carers

Parents and carers are expected to make sure their child has the correct uniform and PE kit, and that every item is:

Clean
Clearly labelled with the child’s name
In good condition

Staff

Staff will closely monitor pupils to make sure they are in correct uniform. They will give any pupils and families breaching the uniform policy the opportunity to comply, but will follow up if the situation doesn’t improve.

Ongoing breaches of our uniform policy will be dealt with by the relevant Head of Year and then the Assistant Headteacher in charge of Key Stage.

Sixth Form Dress Code

Sixth Formers in a school which they share with other younger students are in an unusual position. They have privileges and freedoms that are not granted to those in Year 7 – 11. Staff have different views on how students should look in the Sixth Form, but none of us wants to waste time on disputes over clothes, jewellery or hair. Very importantly we have a high local reputation which is precious; outsiders do make judgements on how our students look, whether we like it or not.

Whilst we do not have a uniform or insist on smart office-wear, there are limits on how casually students are permitted to dress. Through discussion with our sixth form students, we have established a general rule that acceptable clothing will always cover the shaded area in the image below. Additionally, we have also agreed the following specific restrictions.

The following items are not acceptable:

Jogging bottoms or sports shorts (unless taking part in a school sporting activity)
Strapless tops, or tops with spaghetti straps
Skirts, dresses etc. that are shorter than mid-thigh
Cropped/micro shorts
Cropped tops exposing midriff/T Shirts tied up to reveal midriff
Baseball caps or fashion headwear worn inside
Clothing with inappropriate or offensive slogans/logos/ images

Permitted items

Hoodies or coats with hoods are fine, but hoods must be down unless up due to inclement weather.
Sensible jewellery. (but no hoops must not be worn in ears or face).
A nose piercing is permitted, but must be a stud.
Jewellery of religious significance is permitted, but as with all jewellery, must be removed if it is deemed a health and safety risk in certain circumstances.
Headwear of cultural or religious significance.

The overwhelming majority of our students have no difficulty in following the dress code. In cases of dispute about what is acceptable, the Head of Sixth Form will be the final arbiter. Please note that there will be approximately six “dress smartly days” across the year when you will have to come to school dressed in smart office wear.

Be the best version of yourself

RMGS Uniform Policy Sept 2025