A SCHOOL in Bolton is bringing back the art of knotting a tie.

From September clip-on ties at Bolton St Catherine’s Academy will be replaced by the real thing.

And young people have already stamped their mark on the new addition to the uniform by designing ties to represent each year group.

Over the years, traditional school ties have been phased in may schools and replaced by the more convenient clip-on ones mainly for convenience and uniformity so all the ties look the same.

But now the school, with the backing of pupils, is swapping them for the a traditional necktie.

Jason Whittaker, deputy headteacher, said: “We wanted to develop the life skill of tying a tie.

“Clip-on ties can easily get damaged pupils do no learn how to tie a tie.”

The idea to replace to the clip-on ties came about as pupils wanted to re-design the ties to give an identity to each year group.

Mr Whittaker said the old tie did not represent the school. The Student Council set to work coming up with dozens of different designs.

Council reps explained the significance behind the designs to their classmates ­— before opening the five short-listed designs to an all-school vote.

And despite the country being in lockdown, and children learning at home, the vast majority of pupils cast their vote.

The new-look tie has the school logo embossed on it with a smart diagonal stripes, with different colours representing to different year groups. Pupils are not only impressed with the design, they are also liking the idea of wearing a traditional tie.

 

Each student will be a gifted a tie in September. 

Ted Hodson- Fitton said: "Looking smart at school helps us prepare for our future. All types of work require professional dress and it is important we are prepared for this.”

Sophia Hughes added: “It is a sophisticated design that incorporates our school colours, the logo in the background and the Bolton St Catherine values.”

Joe Stone added: “I like the design because it will create a sense of belonging to each year group.”

This September, the school will present each pupil with their own tie which they will keep throughout each year, to give them a sense of pride and identity.

Mr Whittaker said: “The pupils were so enthusiastic about the project and took ownership of it.”