Our school champions the right of students and staff to embrace all Afro-hairstyles. We acknowledge that Afro-textured hair is an important part of our Black students’ and employees’ racial, ethnic, cultural, and religious identities, and requires specific styling for hair health and maintenance.

We celebrate Afro-textured hair worn in all styles including, but not limited to, afros, locs, twists, braids, cornrows, fades, hair straightened through the application of heat or chemicals, weaves, wigs, headscarves, and wraps.

In this workplace, we recognise and celebrate our colleagues’ identities. We are a community built on an ethos of equality and respect where hair texture and style have no bearing on an employee's ability to succeed.

Notes:

1. Race-based hair discrimination is illegal under the Equalities Act 2010. Workplaces have the right to enforce a dress code as long as it is fair and does not unduly discriminate against any staff. Policies and practices that prohibit hairstyles which are primarily used to maintain Afro-textured hair can lead to indirect discrimination.
2. The Halo Code focuses on hair textures and styles most commonly associated with the Black community. The term Black has historically been used as a racial and political label. Here, we use it to refer to members of the African diaspora, including those with mixed heritage, who as a result of their ancestry have Afro-textured hair.
3. The Halo Code is a gender neutral policy.
4. The Halo Code does not prevent schools from issuing additional guidance around Afro-texture hair and protective styles if applied consistently across all students and staff, including:

• That head wraps and scarves should reflect other elements of the uniform code such as the school’s colours.
• That hair is tied up for health and safety reasons, such as during sports, science labs, or to avoid trip hazards.
• That hair colour is reflective of wider school uniform policy