Community Update
Community
The redevelopment of Redlands Academic Uniform commenced this year with the formation of our Uniform Committee, comprising students, parents, staff and Board representatives from across our whole School community. This breadth of expertise and experience, along with extensive and ongoing collaboration, will help shape a uniform that will meet the needs of future generations of Redlands students.
This exciting project sees the first holistic review of our uniform in over 25 years and will culminate in a new era of school attire that is comfortable, contemporary and provides students with personal choice.
Engaging a uniform designer who understood the needs of students from Redlands House through to the Secondary School, and who could realise and develop designs in a stylish, ethical and sustainable way, was paramount. Leading Australian designer, Jonathan Ward, has led our objectives to produce a uniform that:
- reflects the contemporary culture and essence of the School
- positions Redlands as a modern top tier independent school
- is worn with pride by students
The most defining aspect of the new uniform is individual student choice. There will no longer be a Summer and Winter uniform. The new uniform will be trans-seasonal and will be designed to be worn all-year round. It will feature a range of core items as well as an extensive range of optional garments to complement each students’ individual preferences, style and comfort. The new uniform will incorporate gender neutral options and honour the legacy of Redlands uniforms across our rich history.
Value and cost are a central focus of the Uniform Committee. These have been addressed through the development of a trans-seasonal uniform, the use of newly developed fabrics that are lightweight, durable and comfortable and implementation through a long transition period. The new uniform will be transitioned in to the School over two years. It begins at the start of Term 1, 2024 and concludes at the end of Term 4, 2025. In the lead-up to the full transition, students may wear either the current uniform or the new uniform but not a mix of both on any given day. We will offer our much loved Second Hand Uniform service to families commencing with us through the next few years in order to support their transition to Redlands’ new uniform.
The current uniform will be transitioned out by the end of Term 4, 2025. We are working with our uniform manufacturer to provide appropriate recycling solutions, including Worn Up, for the current uniform once it ceases to be available for use at the end of 2025. We look forward to sharing the new uniform design with you in mid-2023.
With the end of another School year approaching the Redlands Parents and Friends Association continue to actively bring our various groups together. A number of social events still remain in the calendar and these can be found here along with our 2023 events that commence early in Term 1 with Twilight in the Garden on Friday 17 February.
My thanks to all of the important groups of committed and generous volunteer members for their assistance and support through 2022. In particular JP Forrest, President of the RPFA, Grahame Petersen, Chair of the Foundation Advisory Committee and Jennifer Farrell, outgoing President of the Redlanders Alumni Association, thank you for your leadership and guidance through an important year of reconnection for our community.
I have been overwhelmed by the warmth and generosity of our community through 2022 and look forward to meeting more of our parents and carers through 2023.
I remain grateful for the continued guidance and support our community provides and, as ever, please don’t hesitate to reach out to the Community Engagement team should you have any feedback, suggestions or questions.
The Community Engagement team wish you a happy, healthy and peaceful break with your family over the festive season and Summer holidays.
Keep well and stay safe.
Mr Grant Birse
Head of Community Engagement
9908 6406
gbirse@redlands.nsw.edu.au