Diocesan College - Uniform and Awards

Uniform and Awards

Bishops College has two uniforms: Formal dress known as "Number Ones", and lighter khaki dress known as "Khakis". Number Ones are worn on all formal occasions such as start-, mid- and end-of-term Eucharists, Evensong, Eisteddfod Night, derby 1st team matches, and other special events. While most other schools have an official changeover from summer uniform to winter uniform, College boys are allowed to wear either Number Ones or Khakis at their leisure, excepting the above circumstances where Number Ones are required. Boys are not, however, allowed to "mix and match", but must instead wear one complete uniform set, excepting the instance where grade 11s and 12s may wear a white shirt with their khakis.

Boys must wear ties and blazers to chapel in the morning, and must remove all scarves, rain jackets, etc. which they are otherwise allowed to wear around the school. Blazers are technically compulsory until morning break, and also cannot be worn without a tie. When wearing khakis, boys may remove their ties and roll up their sleeves. Boys are technically not allowed to do this with Number Ones, but during the hottest part of summer most teachers are lenient in that regard when the boys are inside classrooms. Grade 11s and 12s wearing khakis and a white shirt are technically not allowed to remove their tie.

Ties

Preparatory students may only wear a standard-issue tie, which is dark blue with thin horizontal light blue stripes. The College students have a different regulation tie, dark blue with mitres, and each House has its own tie. Various ties are awarded, such as an Academic Tie (for a student who has achieved an aggregate of 75% thrice), an All-Rounders Tie (works on a points-system) or the Distinction Tie (for an exceptional achievement usually representation at an International Event). All members of the vote-in societies (Forum and Ten Club), members of the Students Representative Forum, the Public Relations Group and senior members of ensembles have their own ties. Ties are also awarded for service or for attending the school for thirteen years. Special ties (such as tour or exchange ties) may be worn on Fridays. The sheer number and diversity of ties at Bishops has entered the school's popular culture, especially as there is no formalised list of all the ties that may be worn at school.

Colours

Excellence in a specific school activity is rewarded with colours, which are small embroidered badges sewn onto a boy's blazer beneath the mitre, displaying initials representing the activity. Colours represent a high level of skill and proficiency, commitment to the activity, and service and leadership, though every colours award has its own specific criteria. Colours are awarded for every school sport, as well as for music, visual arts, drama, and academics. Boys are initially awarded half colours, where only the initial colours patch is awarded, and then may later earn full colours, where a "D.C." patch is affixed before the previous one, and the boy will then have earned the right to wear a colours jersey (see below).

Jerseys

In addition to the normal plain dark blue school jersey, there are award jerseys which boys may only wear once they have earned them. A white jersey is worn when the student has achieved full colours in a discipline excepting academics. A dark blue jersey is worn when a boy achieves full colours for academics, and these jerseys are significantly prized due to their rarity. In the past, a light blue Cadets jersey was also awarded, but this has since been discontinued at the closure of the Cadets programme.