Dear Families

We are fast approaching the end of this academic year. To aid you in preparing your child over the summer break for the new year, I have included a link to our uniform page and some photos below. Please ensure your child starts the year properly attired. Should you have concerns about affording uniform please contact either your child's Form Tutor or our Welfare Team, Keri Walsh and Peter Heffernan for support.

Where to order uniform: (MAPAC.COM)
https://www.mapac.com/education/parents/uniform/meadowhighschoolub83qw

You will note that some items on the website state boy or girl. We do not have a boys or girls uniform and simply expect pupils and families to adhere to the expectations below.

Sadly, due to the misuse of hoods and the number of pupils not abiding by the 'zoodie not hoodie' rule, we are no longer permitting any hooded tops in school. This includes wearing a hoodie as a coat. Should you already have purchased a uniform for next year, please contact our Welfare Team, so we can assist you.

School Uniform Statement

The school Governors expect every student in Years 7–11 to wear the correct school uniform.

For students in the sixth Form, uniform is not required, but good standards of dress are necessary.

Sending your child to school in school uniform sets a standard in appearance, of which both parents/carers and the school can be proud. For health reasons, it is important that students are properly dressed for physical activity. It is helpful if articles of clothing are clearly marked with their name.

We believe that a school uniform is important because it:

Looks smart
Wears well
Contributes to a sense of belonging and community
Makes children feel equal to their peers in terms of appearance
Fosters a feeling of pride
Is designed with health and safety in mind

The school uniform for Years 7-11 is as follows:

Please note that hoodies are not permitted in School.

REQUIRED: Navy Blue Sweatshirt / Cardigan - school badge optional

REQUIRED: White blouse / shirt or polo shirt - school badge optional

(long sleeved versions are also available)

REQUIRED: Black sensible shoes or plain black trainers

REQUIRED: Black trousers /skirt /shorts /leggings /tracksuit trousers (non-branded/no logos)

REQUIRED: Black or white socks

OPTIONAL: Black or grey tights

REQUIRED: Coat Please note that hoodies are not to be worn as coats.

OPTIONAL: Uniform shorts

OPTIONAL: Navy full zip fleece - school badge optional

OPTIONAL: Black or Navy hijab (according to your tradition and preference)

OPTIONAL: Summer Dress

OPTIONAL: Black Blazer - school badge optional (optional iron-on badges are available to purchase from the school office)

OPTIONAL: Clip-On Tie (ties are also available to purchase from the school office)

Please note that hoodies are not permitted in School.

PE Kit

REQUIRED: Plain white T-Shirt or Polo Shirt - school badge optional

REQUIRED: Plain black shorts

REQUIRED: White cotton PE socks

REQUIRED: Trainers suitable for indoor and outdoor. There is no colour requirement.

REQUIRED: Swimming Trunks / Swimming costume / Towel

As per your preference. We would ask that costumes are appropriate for public wear in a swimming pool, not beach / fashion wear.

OPTIONAL: Swimming Hat / Goggles

As per your preference. No novelty items.

OPTIONAL: Cold weather clothing - Black Tracksuits / Sweatshirts for cold weather (NO HOODIE / ZOODIE TOPS). Pupils must not wear their school jumper / fleece for PE.

Jewellery

NO rings / bracelets / hoop earrings / necklaces

YES to a watch / an item relating to the pupil’s religion appropriate to school wear

Sixth Form Dress Code:

Please note that hoodies are not permitted in School.

Whilst students are not required to wear school uniform, we have high expectations on dress code and wish to set an example to the rest of the lower school. On one designated day each week, we raise our expectation to an interview standard, which will be on a Monday. We expect all students to reflect a modest and tidy appearance at all times.

Black or Brown shoes or boots

Trainers (NOT white)

Trousers including black jeans

Shirt/Blouse with collar

Plain t-shirt or with an appropriate logo

Activewear or matching tracksuit, including black leggings.
No hooded tops.

Jumper, cardigan or blazer

Skirts and Dresses (not short or low cut)

The following items are not acceptable in the Sixth Form:

White trainers

Blue denim Jeans

Jewellery should be kept to a minimum

Nails may be polished but must be no longer than 5mm

Hats and caps must be removed when in the school buildings

High heels are not permitted

Makeup / Nail Varnish & Nail Extensions and/or Long Fingernails

If a student chooses to wear makeup this must be discreet - no bright lipstick, eye makeup, false eyelashes. Nails (be they natural or false/gel) must be kept short (no longer than fingertip length) and natural in colour.

If a student comes to school wearing nail varnish, their Form Tutor or a member of SLT may ask the pupil to remove it with nail polish remover.

If a student comes to school with nail extensions or long nails, permission to take part in P.E, drama or practical lessons may be withheld and students will not be allowed out for break or lunch play. A phone call home to advise that false nails be removed/shortened or natural nails clipped at the earliest opportunity.

For clarity, fingernails should not protrude beyond the ends of the fingers.

The above School Uniform Information can also be found on the School Website

PARENTS / SCHOOL UNIFORM

Thank you for your assistance in this matter. As stated above, please contact our Welfare Team with any uniform queries or issues.

Mrs Rigby
Headteacher

Dance Interview - Ellen M

Ellen is an ex Meadow student who was contacted to take part in this interview. She was very impressed to see the new facilities around the school- especially the new dining hall with dance mirrors and a ballet barre. She was also excited to see the new Hall set up as she used to take part in many of our school productions. Ellen was an avid dancer at Meadow and her passion grew throughout the years here. She took part in dance club, production club, performing in many shows and took Dance options qualifying in a dance leadership award to coach others. This gave Ellen opportunities to see the different roles within the Arts which she mentions in her interview - guided her onto her path. Ellen was always very supportive of her peers and was enthusiastic to explain to her peers the benefits of Dance at Meadow.

What have you done since leaving Meadow?

I went to BCA College and did 1 year of Art and design then 2 years of Production Arts, graduated from college and I got a nursing job (from the work experience I had at Meadow). I also did some volunteering at the Compass theatre, some wardrobe, ushering, bar work there. I went for a technician role at a college and worked there full time. Then also, I went for amateur dramatics company backstage as and when I can help with every other Sunday.

What do you feel has helped you most from doing Dance at Meadow?

From taking part in both Dance and the Production shows, it gave me the passion and the ideas for going into production arts, which started at Meadow. It let me explore what other avenues there were and it helped see the other possibilities. Doing Dance gave me a good idea of what the performers do and how it works. This gave me a rounded understanding of what the people on stage where going through.

What memories do you have at Meadow that stay with you now?

Mostly taking part in the Productions really! Just being a part of it all and the process of starting it from scratch - the scripts to putting it on stage. I learnt that I enjoyed seeing it through. I pushed myself to performing on stage. If I had known in year 7 I would be doing a solo by the end of 6th form I wouldn’t believe you! I do have to lead others backstage. Teaching is like putting on a show, so I feel like this helped. I show others health and safety with a list and talk through all the important tips.

How do you ensure you are at your best to perform?

I like to have a plan! I know that is very autistic of me, but it makes me feel calm. I normally dance when I am feeling stressed, it will relieve the stress out of me. If I am even on break, I will go for a walk with my music on and dance it out. With Covid and work I haven’t been able to do any proper dance lessons. I have also been working on my driving, so it gets very busy! I do want to find more classes to access now and again. I do go to the gym, but I miss going to a good dance class.

Describe the best performance you’ve ever put on. What did you learn from it?

The best performance I have been a part of was this year I was deputy stage manager so I led a group of students. They made some mistakes but by the end they were really confident. Timings got worked out and it was a learning curve.

Describe a time when you disagreed with an instructor or other dance member. What happened?

I can sometimes disagree in how someone else might explain something to others and I think I can do it differently. Some people can speak to others in blunt ways in the industry. I am not one to disagree so keep my head down.

What are the most important traits a dancer should have?

Dedication - It won’t always happen overnight so be patient. It will take time to practice being patient with yourself and others. You can get frustrated, and you won’t get it all straight away so just take your time. Some situations that happen are out of your control. Consideration for others and their abilities, that people do get things wrong, make mistakes, but you should not put them down.

Have you ever forgotten the dance steps during a performance? What happened?

Yes, I have just phased out and then looked over realising! I think it was one of the Bruno Mars ones, I did it at a party and then didn’t even realise but no one else knew so it was okay!

What advice can you give to our dancers at Meadow?

Do not write it off. Give it a go! I think many people write it off and think because it is in the Arts you have to be dramatic and flamboyant, but you don’t have to be. I got to a point where I was asking to do private tap, jazz lessons with Miss Kalia and was a bit of a secret weapon.

What did you enjoy the most at dance?

The freedom of it, I always liked music and being able to create. It was not to society norms. Open but also structure, which works the best for my brain!