School Hat Policies

From West Wallsend School
From Happy Valley School


If you're moving to Australia, this might be something you don't know about!
In Australian primary schools, hats are usually compulsory. Some are compulsory just in the last and first terms of school (ie, in the hot weather), others all year round, whenever the children are outside. They're usually part of the school uniform and are of the school colour or have the school logo. Baseball caps are not acceptable hats. It's usually bucket hats or broadbrimmed hats or caps with a flap at the back (my least favourite...).
"No Hat, No Play" is a common phrase heard around Australia!

There was an article in the paper today about how Sunsmart Australia is trying to encourage high schools to get their high school students to wear hats.
We had to wear hats in Highschool for PE but not for just outside during lunch. We just put on sunscreen.

I do feel for those kids who hate what it does to their hair. They want to still look nice in the afternoon but they must completely redo their hair. It also used to make my head hot and my head feel horrible. But it is a good idea as it shades the face and (usually) neck, something which is needed in our hot country, where something like 1/3 get some form of skin cancer.

I say bring back shallow hats and hat pins so hats can perch on top of the head rather than being jammed over the ears. Or have hats be shady yet good looking rather than hugely daggy and dorky. (The bucket hat is the best option of the three for that, as long as it is broad brimmed like mine usually is). Then older kids don't have to worry about their hair. And it's not like they need strings around their chin to keep them on their heads as they play chasey. Or maybe some nice straw hats like the private schools have sometimes?
But, at least everyone is dorky together.