FROM September students in Year 7 to Year 10 at Queen Elizabeth's Community College will be required to wear a new school uniform.

The new uniform will consist of a Black school jacket, white shirt, traditional school tie, an optional grey v-neck sweater with gold and black neck stripes and a logo, black skirt or trousers and black footwear.

Plain black, grey or skin toned tights or plain black, grey or white socks. Outerwear should be a plain weatherproof coat no hoodies, cardigans or pullover tops will be allowed.

Footwear should be black but no trainers, motifs, badges or high heels should be worn.

Year 11 students will continue to wear the existing uniform with the black QECC sweatshirt, which can still be purchased at Mole Avon's Town and Countrywear on Crediton High Street. They have plenty in stock and can order more if required.

Both the new and old uniforms are available from Mole Avon Town and Countrywear, the only stockist of the uniform in Crediton.

There will be strict guidelines on the way the uniform is worn, for example the grey sweater should not be worn without the jacket and no other jumper or sweatshirt should be worn but a weatherproof coat can be worn over the jacket, white shirts should be worn tucked in and skirts should be knee length.

The college will expect the students to remain in uniform for the journeys between home and college.

There will also be strict guidelines on the wearing of jewellery, make-up and hair.

Jewellery must be discreet in style, only stud earrings and sleepers (in a solid ring and no larger than a five pence coin), will be allowed.

All items including piercing must be removable for health and safety reasons for subjects such as PE and possibly other active subjects such as dance, drama science or technology.

Make-up should be discreetly applied and not be overtly visible or colourful and any excess may have to be removed.

Members of the Support and Leadership team will decide if uniform rules have been broken and failure to comply with these rules may result in sanctions being imposed, such as detention, isolation or being sent home to change into the correct uniform.

Nora Parminter

Editorial Manager's note: The decision of the school governors to impose a new school uniform from September has been the subject of much discussion since the announcement was made.

Because of this the Courier invites readers to tell us what they think and we will publish a selection of letters, which should be signed, should bear the name and address of the writer and a telephone number at which they can be contacted.

Letters should be addressed to the Editorial Manager, Crediton Country Courier, 102 High Street, Crediton, EX17 3LF and should be marked QECC Uniform.