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What to wear to school

Taking a break

The best advice is to dress conservatively on the first day and observe what other colleagues are wearing.

Some schools have unwritten rules on hairstyles, earrings, wearing jeans, caps or trainers, so it’s probably best to ask your mentor in advance if you are unsure about something you wish to wear. 

Whether or not you agree with the school rules on standards of appearance, it could create unnecessary problems for you if you do not conform.

Dress and matters of ethnicity and religion

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All employees are protected from discrimination on the grounds of religion or belief, meaning that unjustifiable rules of dress cannot be imposed on staff.
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All employees are protected from discrimination on the grounds of religion or belief, meaning that unjustifiable rules of dress cannot be imposed on staff. For example, in 2000 the European Court of Human Rights upheld a Pakistani woman’s claim against her employer’s refusal to let her wear a headscarf for supposedly health and safety reasons. 
 
An employer who objects to the wearing of clothing related to religious observance is likely to face a successful challenge of unlawful indirect discrimination, unless he can show that the rule is a  ‘proportionate means of achieving a legitimate aim'. 

 Download ATL's free publication for students, Into the classroom, for further advice on how to get the most out of your studies.

Help and support 
For further advice on this issue, ATL members can speak to their school rep, their branch secretary or their regional official. They can also call the London (020 7930 6441), Cardiff (029 2046 5000) or Belfast office (02890 327 990) or email info@atl.org.uk.

For out of hours enquiries, call the out of office hours helpline on 020 7782 1612 (Monday-Friday, 5-8pm during term time).

If you are not a member, join now.

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