Piercings and tattoos

[deary]

What is acceptable in your school? Is the same for teachers and TA's?
How do you work out what is acceptable?

I don't want to get sent home but neither do I want to ask the HT!

[Copperspot]

My school is reasonably casual. Lot's of us (both teachers and TAs) have tattoos and slt are fine with them. As long as they aren't offensive, so no nudity / swearing / swastikas obviously. People have hand / feet / shoulder etc so not always covered.

Piercings allowed are ears (as many as you want) and nose (stud only). My friend (teacher) has a tongue piercing and puts in a clear rubber bar mon-fri. You can't tell it's there.

Obviously any not-on-show piercings are fine.

[BeingATwatItsABingThing]

Some of our staff have tattoos. They are visible some of the time. No one cares because they aren’t offensive in any way.

Some of our teachers/TAs have piercings other than one stud in each year. No one cares about that either.

[deary]

We have teachers with nose piercings and TA's with visible tattoos.
I was wondering whether I'd get away with a tiny nose ring rather than a stud.

[bettyboo40]

My school is very strict. Even men aren't allowed their ear pierced! They don't even like men to have long hair (even tied back) which just seems ridiculous to me. Definitely no visible tattoos or nose studs either. It sounds like your school might be more laid back.

[GutterStar]

I teach in an independent preparatory school. I have eight tattoos and I tend to keep them covered most of the time, but it's not really a big deal.
I did get drunk at an end of term party once and showed the boss all my tattoos because I assumed she knew about them but she didn't

[Cynderella]

Tattoos have to be discreet, although one member of staff gets away with it. No piercings other than earrings.

I suppose I'm quite conservative in this regard - doesn't look like professional dress to me. Fine for out of school, but cover up at work.

[Cynderella]

And same for TAs as teachers. Our TAs do dress more casually than teachers with one exception. The exception has the respect of the kids and is often referred to as a teacher by the Y7s and Y8s. Not saying it's right, but she looks professional and has an easier time of it. I don't think any would come to school with visible tattoos or piercings though.

[realwoodlogs]

I love my school as it permits tattoos (non offensive obviously) and piercings. I’m pretty pierced and tattooed and worked previously in a school that did not permit piercings or tattoos. Non coincidentally it was a hell of a place to work too. Focusing on that but not really focusing on problems in the school or staff well being.

[LockedOutOfMN]

Our independent school bans everything except female staff wearing earrings (male staff also aren't allowed to wear make up) and get emails about it from SLT in a weekly/fortnightly basis. However, no individual has been spoken to, and there are people with visible tattoos, nose rings, eyebrow rings, male staff wearing earrings and many other staff not following the dress code (we're not allowed sleeveless tops or sandals, men have to wear ties, etc.) I think everyone just ignores the blanket emails and thinks that if their personal clothes etc. are inappropriate then the Head or Deputy Head should/would come and speak to them. It's a crap system as it breeds resentment.