Jewellery is not permitted as part of the school uniform. It is better if primary aged children do not have their ears pierced due to difficulties in removing earrings and keeping them safe.  However, one pair of plain gold/silver stud earrings is currently allowed.  For P.E. and swimming, the child must remove these items preferably before coming to school (they must be able to do this by themselves).

We follow current Health and Safety guidelines in physical education (see below). This means that jewellery should not be worn in P.E. and earrings should be removed for the lesson. Where piercings are still healing within any advised period (e.g. 6 weeks) and a pupil is unable to remove their earrings, then that pupil will not actively participate in the lesson in line with these guidelines.

Impact on PE and Swimming Lessons

Parents are encouraged to actively work with schools in helping to minimise disruption to the physical education curriculum. Parents can help by ensuring that school guidance on jewellery is adhered to. We would advise that if children are having their ears pierced that they do this at the beginning of the summer holidays. There have been instances where children have not been able to attend swimming lessons due to children being unable to remove their earings.

Health and Safety Advice

The Health and Safety Information Bulletin issued by the Education Departmental Safety Co-ordinator has clarified the position with regard to children wearing earrings for P.E., Games and Swimming.

“The current Code of Practice for Physical Education, Games, Sports and Outdoor Education states that „watches, jewellery, rings and earrings, belts with metal buckles and other unnecessary encumbrances likely to prove dangerous to the wearer or to others should not be worn‟. This follows national advice issued by the British Association of Advisers and Lecturers in Physical Education (BAALPE).” The Bulletin continues: “Schools have a duty to deliver the National Curriculum to all pupils but also have a duty to safeguard pupils in their care. Parents or children refusing to comply with these safety requirements are themselves preventing the school from delivering the National Curriculum.”

As such, we do not allow children to wear jewellery, including earrings during P.E., Games and swimming lessons as, if an accident did occur, the School could be found liable. It is not possible for parents to get around this rule by ‘granting permission’.Teachers and support assistants are not allowed to take out or replace children’s earrings if they are unable to do so themselves and, although willing to look after earrings during a lesson, cannot be held responsible for any losses.