WHILE some teachers may face an ongoing battle with pupils over school uniform rules, the young people at Harper Green School don their shirt and tie — and now for the first time the blazer — with pride.

The Farnworth school has for the first time introduced a blazer as part of the uniform and it is not only proving a hit with pupils— but is also having an impact on standards in and out of the classroom.

Sally Heppenstall, deputy head and director of pastoral care, said: “We have never had blazers before, we have just had jumpers.

"Looking smart increases self-worth, and if you look smart you are more likely to act smart.

"If you look around the students look incredibly smart, it has raised standards in the way the students carry themselves.

"The amount of parents and members of the community have stopped to say how smart the students look."

The idea of adding to a blazer was mooted by executive headteacher Paul Roach, who introduced a blazer when he became head of nearby Mount St Joseph and the school achieved outstanding GCSE results over the summer.

The idea of introducing blazers was discussed by the school council who consulted with their peers and parents.

Mr Roach said: “The blazers given students a sense of identity and pride in themselves.

"It raises expectations and raises in standards in how students present themselves.

"We have had very positive feedback from back from parents and the wider community about how smart the students look."

The student council chose the design.

Pupils at the school believe that looking smarter instils a sense of pride and a wanting to do better.

Head boy Elliot Dagnall, aged 15, said: “Students feel more confident and feel smarter and have more pride in themselves.

"When you are in the community you take more pride when you are out and about because people know you are representing the school and you are the face of the school.

"I think it does raise standards because if people feel scruffy it could lower their confidence which has an affect on how they do."

Rosa Hinchcliffe, aged 15, said: “I think if you look smart, you feel smart, it give you a confidence boost.

"You feel more proud and dressing smarter changes your mindset."

Even the sceptics have been won round.

Megan Twigg, aged 13, said: “At the start I didn’t agree, I thought of the expense and when I first saw the picture I thought it was grey and thought not grey.

“I was a bit sceptical because I like to look a bit different — but I quite like it now.

"I do feel more confident. I hold myself better than in a jumper and it is ideal for winter and also has pockets so you are not constantly reaching in your bag.

"When parents and people say you look smart it makes you feel good about yourself and good about the school."