Useful Information

All absences and appointment requests such as medical appointments should now be reported via the School Gateway app. Details concerning this process were recently sent home to all parents. You may also contact school using the Schoolcomms system (for which you must have registered) using the number 01287244005. Please ensure you text before 9.00am.

Please text (or phone) on each day of absence. If you have signed up to our App or Schoolcomms system you will receive a text if your son/daughter is neither in Tutor group registration nor registered elsewhere in the school and we have not received a text or telephone call from you.

Alternatively, if you need to give a more detailed explanation you may telephone the number below before 9.00am:

Junior School: Mrs Henderson 02890 205206

Middle School: Mrs Sutton 02890 205213

Senior School: Mrs Allen-Antuna 02890 205226

As you are aware, we ask that medical appointments, family holidays etc. are arranged outside school hours. However, in exceptional circumstances, if your son/daughter has to miss part of a day, a full day or more than one day then you should contact the school via the App or Schoolcomms system. All requests for planned absence should be made at least three days in advance.

If a pupil feels unwell during the school day they should go to the San where Sister will assess their condition. If deemed necessary she will contact the parent and request that the pupil is collected from the college. 

Pupils must not contacts their parents directly unless advised to do so by a member of staff. 

Absence due to illness or other unforeseen circumstances, should now be reported via the School Gateway App. You may also contact school using the Schoolcomms system (for which you must be registered) using the number 01287244005 please ensure you make contact before 9.00 am on each day of absence. Alternatively parents may contact the appropriate Administrative Assistant by phone (see below) who will record the details, or you can leave a message via voicemail.

• Navy Blazer (boys’ or girls’) with embroidered logo. Sixth Form blazer for Sixth Form pupils.
• White button neck shirt/blouse. It should be tucked into trousers/skirt at all times.
• Methody regulation skirt (navy for Forms 1-5, grey for Sixth Form), worn no shorter than knee length with plain, black opaque tights or grey socks, or,
• Dark charcoal grey, traditional school trousers. Full length & regular fit. To be worn with plain black or grey socks.
• School tie, to be worn up to the top button (fastened) and tied correctly with the College symbol visible below the knot. Other ties (e.g. sports/society ties) are not permitted.
• Plain black school shoes with no more than 6cm heel. Please see guidance on acceptable styles.
• Methody regulation navy or grey V-neck knitted jumper may be worn.

The following items should not be worn:

• Chinos, jeans or ‘jean like’ trousers, skinny jeans or leggings.
• Hooded tops/sweat-tops apart from # (see Regulations following)
• Non-uniform cardigans/jumpers
•  External coats/jackets are not to be worn inside the school building. 

All items of uniform should be labelled with the pupil’s name. Pupils who lose items of uniform/equipment should check Lost Property.

Optional Items

Track suit bottoms (strongly recommended), hooded top, fleece. PE and Games Uniform should be purchased from the shop located in the College, with the exception of those Items marked *.

It is strongly recommended that:

• in contact sports mouth guards and shin guards are worn;
•  in sunny weather sun cream should be applied.

The items of PE and Games uniform can only be bought from the Canterbury School Shop located in the College (with the exception of those items marked with an *). The shop is open on Friday before school and at lunchtime on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday during term time. It is open at other times during August, before the start of the autumn term. 

Pupils going home after Games or after school practices are permitted to wear either full school uniform, including blazer, or MCB track suit bottoms and top/regulation hoodie, (but not a mixture of school uniform and Games/PE kit.).

If a pupil is representing the College on a team, agreed MCB apparel must be worn.

Uniform Regulations for ALL Pupils involved in Sporting Activities during the School Day other than Afternoon Games If pupils are involved in a sporting activity from the beginning of the school day they may only come to school in their tracksuit if they have been given permission to do so by the Head of PE.

If pupils are leaving for a sporting activity during the day they come into school in their uniform and they change at the following times: 

• Leaving between break and lunch – change at break time;
• Leaving after lunch – change at lunch time;
• Leaving at the end of school for a match or practice – change after school.

If pupils return during the course of the school day they must change into full uniform.

School PE Kits can be purchased from the School Sports Shop located within Methodist College Campus. 

School Sports Shop Opening Hours:

Tuesday & Thursaday: 1:00pm -1:30pm

Friday: 08:00am-8:45am & 12:45 -1:15pm
 

Second-Hand Uniform Items Stocks of second-hand MCB uniforms are often available from the below shops. 

Financial Assistance towards the cost of school uniform is available for some pupils through the Educations Authority’s clothing allowance. The eligibility criteria are the same as those used for free school meals. Please contact the Head of Pastoral Care, Mrs Logan for more information. There is also a Principal’s Discretionary Fund details of which can be obtained from the school website or the Principal’s office.

The skirt should be worn to sit at knee level as shown below. It should not be altered in terms of length. Skirts purchased which are too short will have to be returned and you will be asked to purchase a new skirt of the appropriate length. In Forms 1-5 pupils wear the navy skirt, 6th Form wear the grey skirt.

Below are examples of acceptable footwear.

Please note that the following do not conform to the College regulations and must not be worn with College uniform:

• Shoes with white or coloured soles/rim/logos/trainers or trainer type shoes;
• shoes with suede, Nu- buck or canvas finish;
• stiletto/ kitten /wedge heels/ platform shoes;
• ballet pumps;
• boots/fashion footwear above the ankle.

• Hair should be neat and tidy, natural in colour and conventional in style (minimum #2 clipper, medium/high/skin fades are not permitted i.e. the scalp should not be visible).
• Nails should be natural in colour and should be an appropriate and safe length for a working environment.
• If worn at all make up should be subtle and natural in appearance.
• The following piercings are permitted: ear (no more than 2 small, plain studs/sleepers per ear); nose (a single discreet stud).
• Pupils will be required to remove the following if worn: bars, spacers, hoops and any other facial piercing (e.g. in septum, on eyebrow, on lip).
• If jewellery is worn it should be appropriate and safe for a working environment and not extreme. Pupils are discouraged from wearing valuable items in school.
• Visible tattoos are not permitted.
• #A plain navy fleece may be worn during inclement weather under the blazer, to and from school, but must not be worn during the school day

All pupils are required to conform to these regulations. The cooperation of parent(s)/guardian(s) in this respect is expected. Only regulation uniform should be worn. Infringement of the uniform regulations will result in the issue of a sanction in line with the College’s Positive Behaviour policy.

If for any unavoidable reason a temporary deviation from the Uniform Regulations is required, a written request should be made to the Head of Form. (For example, a pupil may be unable to wear their complete school uniform due to a broken leg or arm. If this is the case, full school tracksuit or tracksuit bottoms and regulation top may be worn).

Deviations from these regulations on the grounds of religious beliefs may be permitted. If the adjustment is not a previously agreed change a request should be made in writing to the Vice Principal (Pastoral) for consideration.

Individualism is not an acceptable reason to depart from the regulations.

The College reserves the right to issue further guidance to pupils during the school year in the event of fashion trends impacting adversely on pupil appearance.