Hooded jumpers known as "hoodies", bar earrings, ugh boots and lollipops are among items Hunter principals have been forced to outlaw in schools this term for student safety and discipline.

It's alongside the myriad of technology students are already encouraged to keep at home or in their bags such as mobile phones, MP3 players and hand-held video games.

Cessnock West Public school principal Sean Andrews this month asked students, particularly male pupils, not to wear bar earrings because of "occupational, health and safety concerns".

Branxton Public School principal Mark Ouvrier expressed concern recently that lollipops were becoming part of some senior students daily diet because they were not a healthy eating habit and "can also present a danger for the user".

In July this year Lambton Public School principal David Robson asked parents not to send their children to school in hooded jumpers known as "hoodies" because they were not school uniform.

His request came weeks before Tweed City shopping centre banned hooded sweatshirts during late night shopping hours to prevent young criminals using them to hide their identities from security cameras.

At Swansea High School, skateboards and scooters were banned because students refused to wear safety equipment, the school could not store them and there had been several near misses outside the school grounds.

A number of schools including Swansea High have also had to remind students to wear shoes with leather uppers because inappropriate footwear, including ugh boots, was banned.

NSW Primary Principals Association president Geoff Scott said principals were constantly responding to new fad items as they made their way into schools and bans were always a last resort.

He said items such as mobile phones and skateboards were handled differently at each school and other items were covered by various policies.

"Schools aren't in the business of banning things but what we try to do is look after students safety and their best interests," he said.