Policy: Sun Smart – Sun Hats

Policy Coordinator: Head of Campus, Head of Junior School

1. Rationale:

This policy has been developed to ensure that all students and staff attending Tintern Schools are protected from over-exposure to the harmful ultra violet rays of the sun. The Tintern Schools have had great success in promoting a "no hat, no play" policy with the primary children. Within the secondary context, students are more likely to resist wearing hats, and The Tintern Schools continue to encourage them to be responsible in this regard.

2.1 Students are required to wear a hat during lessons conducted outdoors and in other supervised outdoor activities in Terms 1 and 4. If a student does not have a hat at these times a new hat will be supplied and charged to the student’s account. Staff supervising these activities are requested and strongly advised by The Tintern Schools to wear hats at these times as well.

2.2 Students are required to wear a hat should they be likely to be exposed to the sun during all other organised school activities outside the school property. Similarly, staff are expected to wear a hat on these activities.

2.3 In addition to wearing sun hats students are required to be adequately covered by sunscreen during all outdoor activities and staff are similarly advised of this need.

2.4 The Tintern Schools provide shaded areas for the protection of students and staff and actively discourages them from sitting in the sun without a hat when they are outdoors in their own time.

2.5 At Southwood, students are required to wear a sun hat at recess and lunchtime during Terms 1 and 4.

2.6 While in school uniform and travelling to and from school it is critically important that students and families exercise their own common sense and discretion in the wearing of hats. It is clear that unless as a society we become conscious of hats and hat wearing we are exposing ourselves to the possibility of ill health as a result of the sun’s rays. At Tintern, the Uniform Shop stocks supplies of the following hats which can be worn with the Tintern Schools’ uniforms:

1. Peaked Cap
2. Straw Hat (Tintern)
3. Surf Style Hat (Southwood)
4. Legionnaire Hat
5. Floppy Cricket Hat