THE hoodie has been banned from a Cotswolds school.

The head teacher at Chipping Camden School fears casual clothes don't encourage learning and has told sixth formers to smarten up their act.

Sixth formers at Chipping Campden were read the riot act when their outfits became too fashion-conscious.

Head teacher Annette France said students should 'dress for learning'.

Mrs France said: "We've always had a dress code for sixth formers but because we went so very smart with our new main school uniform, the contrast with what the sixth formers were wearing became so marked.

"It was particularly the girls. They think they look lovely but the trend for leggings and little cropped tops is fine for shopping or in a bar but not for school."

The head teacher said senior students supposed to be setting an example were strutting up to study wearing zipped jackets, strappy tops, trainers, shorts, cropped trousers and Ugg-style boots.

Now these are all on the 'what not to wear' list.

From September, Year 12s will have to wear formal jackets or blazers, with shirts and ties for boys and collared or sleeved blouses with "business length" skirts for girls – close to the knee.

In a letter to parents Ms France said: "Unfortunately, the standard of dress of sixth-formers has deteriorated in recent years."

She advised a "happy compromise" with youngsters wearing reasonably priced, machine washable formal jackets from chain stores.

Defending her stance, Mrs France added: "If they are smart in their dress they will be smart in their thinking. I've often used the analogy of being an actor – you dress for a part which makes you act a certain way.

"So basically, it's dressing for learning but we came to a compromise so they can express their individuality."

Ms France said the smarter, more executive new look came following good-natured discussions with the older pupils.

The colour of shoes and boots will now be black, brown or navy, for boys and girls.

Girls must only wear black or tan plain tights.

And there is a final word of warning on the school's website under sixth form dress code.

It says: "Mrs King is the arbiter of skirt length and students wearing skirts deemed to be too short will be required to wear a main school skirt for the duration of the day."