Skip to content ↓
St Thomas More Catholic Secondary School

St Thomas More
Catholic Secondary School

“How you present yourself makes a difference”

The way that you dress is important  - it reflects the respect that you have for yourself and the community in which you learn and work.  As a Sixth Form student you should be dressed suitably as if going to a place of formal work.

We encourage you to be stylish yet 'clean, smart and presentable', supporting your status as a role model to the younger students in the school.  We expect you to be able to make the right choices, however, the school will use its discretion to decide whether a student's dress is appropriate.

Appropriate Dress

  • Students should wear clothing of a modest nature suitable for a learning environment and should therefore not be revealing or too short
  • Jump suits can be worn provided shoulders are covered and they are of a modest length   
  • Knee length shorts are allowed in hot weather
  • In hot weather Maxi dresses are allowed provided shoulders are covered
  • In hot weather Vest tops may be worn, providing they have a wide strap (approx. 1 inch min)
  • T-shirts or polo style shirts with non-offensive logos, slogans or statements are allowed 
  • Appropriate footwear must be worn - no flip-flops and heels should be of a reasonable height
  • Sixth Formers will be expected to dress in business attire at different times throughout the year [e.g. Mass/Leadership Days] to show their leadership of the school community
  • Leggings need to be worn with an appropriate length top

Inappropriate Dress:

  • Bodycon skirts, miniskirts or hot pants (including denim hot pants)/short non-tailored shorts are not allowed as they are inappropriate for a learning environment
  • Clothing displaying offensive logos, slogans or statements are not acceptable
  • Football / Team strips and shirts displaying specific team insignia are inappropriate
  • Bare midriffs are not acceptable
  • Tops with thin straps or strapless tops are not acceptable
  • Ripped jeans and tights
  • Dyed hair that is not a natural tone is not acceptable  
  • No hats, bandannas or caps may be worn inside buildings

Acceptable Jewellery

  • All items of jewellery should be of a modest nature.
  • A modest approach would see simple single studs in each ear (maximum of two per ear).
  • A single small, discrete nose stud is acceptable should you wish
  • No other visible facial/body piercing, including nose rings will be allowed as part of acceptable dress

If you are in clothing that is in our opinion inappropriate for a school work setting then you will be challenged.  The question that will be put to you more often than not will be: Would you think it would be appropriate for a teacher to wear what you are wearing today?

As such, standards of appearance in school are our mutual responsibility.  

The final decision as to what is, or is not appropriate dress, lies with the Director of Sixth Form.

@stthomas6th On Twitter

  • Super work @daisysmithmedia another one of our fabulous ex students https://t.co/UOtn5ylU7L

  • Jake Sampson, newly elected candidate for Newnham, a former student of STM, came for a breakfast meeting with 6th students. He came with Mayor Dave Hodgson and Alex Williams a political Grad student. Students at STM are keen to have a voice. https://t.co/60yIcEVudA

  • 6th form students take the opportunity to question Alistair Burt and his office manager and wife Eve, talking about local issues that affect Bedford. Issues relating to knife crime, homelessness and the National Health service and issues regarding climate change #Questiontime https://t.co/QiWO03ITst

  • Film afternoon at STM for our fabulous 6th form. https://t.co/kcIYqC1a16

  • It’s a CAFOD mad hair day at STM in Bedford, fundraising for a worthy cause. Good hair days make you feel fabulous https://t.co/IThiauaiVM

  • Students from STM year 12 and yr 11 attended a careers event held at Bedford Hospital. The Pathology department presented an engaging and informative day. Opening options in Bio Medical Sciences with the science behind the cure. https://t.co/zv6xbYn0mA

  • The fabulous students in STM6th form performed carols at Kimbolton Lodge today and were amazing. The residents sang along and the students sang beautifully. I am really proud of the group who gave their time and commitment. Have a great Christmas. https://t.co/ZlTjwGabSN

  • STM6th sporting their Christmas jumpers with flashing lights and ho ho ho headbands. Mock exams are over and students are really getting into the festive spirit. https://t.co/yGpbGowrvE

  • Some of our 6th form Elves waiting to hand over the gifts to the SVP local charity https://t.co/H2DvV6hzCl

  • Students at STM 6th get into the spirit of giving, supporting families in Bedford, making a difference this Christmas. https://t.co/C0pVxkmTPa

  • Another great fundraising event for #MacmillanCoffeeMorning with staff and students making it such a happy, worthwhile event. £326.44 and counting Thank you to all who baked https://t.co/bC1F41oHyM

  • Well done, the all girl team at the #UniversityChallenge regional heat today. They nailed the maths, geography, history and chemistry questions. They tied for third place but achieved another 10 points after a remark. There was talk of a wild card. An excellent performance https://t.co/fnOUhN1zoz

  • The only site where you can find all the past papers + mark schemes you need in one place- so simple! https://t.co/hlVap7UvnM #pastpapers #exams #GCSEexams #21stedchat #exampapers #GCSEs2018 #revision #revise #GCSEs #ALevels #ukedchat #edchat #educhat #lrnchat #examsuccess https://t.co/prsXl5WAyK

  • How to thrive at secondary school: by students https://t.co/hHCqjLXpXI

  • A thorough and engaging day. Compression and bandaging skills covered https://t.co/wevuSjqw5S

  • 6th formers at STM are learning how to do first aid. The training delivered by St Johns Ambulance will provide excellent skills for life. Thumbs up for first aid https://t.co/QNuBGWv99M

  • STM 6th students hosting an English Literature workshop. Yr 13s supporting the yr12s. The students enjoying the limelight but also embedding their critical awareness. https://t.co/bcXMrrRqO3

  • Students delivering English Literature lectures to years 12 & 13 supporting exam preparation. The Dolls House, Rossetti poetry, The Handmaids Tale and 1984. https://t.co/tuNeWmuR5d

  • When you see your name up at the world famous Palladium ...you can’t help but wonder how did all… https://t.co/1de1RFDnWe

  • Christmas jumper day for students at St Thomas More 2017 https://t.co/IpgWAKdHKP