PUPILS at a Prestwich high school are sporting a smart new look after being given free uniforms.

All 760 students at The Heys School have been given a new blazer, tie, jumper, sports t-shirt and PE hoodie.

This package would usually cost parents around £60 to buy, the school said.

Parents, however, have been asked to provide white shirts, trousers or skirts, and PE shorts or leggings.

The uniform bears The Heys School's new crest ­— which was chosen by governors from designs submitted by students.

Two entries, by Year 10 boy Jack and Year 8 girl Lexi, were merged to form the final design.

Jack said: “It was great to find out that my design was chosen to be the new school crest and that it launched The Heys School brand.”

Lexi added: “I’m very proud to have played a part in designing the new school logo. I think it looks great on the new uniform.”

The Heys School, was formerly known as Prestwich Arts College, and recently became part of the Wigan-based Rowan Learning Trust.

It had been ordered to turn into an academy after it was rated inadequate by the Government's education watchdog, Ofsted.

An opposition campaign was mounted, led by a former pupil, Josh Harcup.

However, this ultimately proved unsuccessful and the academisation went ahead.

Headteacher Rachel Evans said: “As a school, we felt we needed a fresh start and to make it clear that becoming an academy represents a change for the better and will continue that way.

“The uniform is key to this, and we hope it will help develop a sense of pride and ownership among the students, as we have shown they are important and valued for their input, having been involved in the whole process.

“We’ve changed from having a blue shirt, which was often difficult to source, to white, we have the new crest on the blazer and tie, and we have redesigned the PE kit to include a hoodie and t-shirt, which the students were keen to have.

“We spent a lot of time looking at uniforms that would stand the test of time, be easy to wash, keep looking smart and were responsibly-priced. The feedback has been extremely positive.”

The Rowan Learning Trust has further promised to fund uniforms for any pupil who joins the school during the course of the year, Ms Evans added.