Clarendon College is to give all Year 11 pupils free blazers and every child in the school two white shirts in a a bid to placate parents over its new uniform.

Parents are angry that new headteacher Mark Stenton is introducing the uniform designed in consultation with pupils, for next year.

He is determined to change the culture at the Trowbridge school, which was placed in special measures after a damning Oftsed report.

More than 150 parents have joined a Facebook group complaining about the uniform change and on Friday Mr Stenton met with parents to discuss their grievances.

“The meeting went well,” said Mr Stenton, who take s up his post next month. “I explained to them the reasons behind the change and that it is the pupils themselves who have asked for it.”

He said the parents who came to the meeting have been invited to join the school’s new parent liaison group.

Mr Stenton said the free blazers were a gesture to the 200 parents whose children will only be at the school for a year.

“It does seem unfair some parents will have to buy new blazers when their children are in their final year so the blazers will be free to each pupil in year 11.

“They will then be given back to the school at the end of the year so that we have a good stock of spares,” he said.

He said the move, which will cost around £2,000, was his idea and the governors had supported it.

“We will also give every pupil in the school two new white shirts to assist with the uniform change.

“I am determined to see this through, we have a real momentum of change in the school at the moment.

“The children involved in designing the uniform were adamant that they wanted to change the shirts from blue to white and I and the governors want to support that.”

Mr Stenton said the school has already begun a redecoration programme and promised more changes to the school’s curriculum and timetable to quicken the pace of change.

“We all recognise that the school requires an input of energy to get it to where it should be. It has been likened to a sleeping giant and I think that it is right. We need to realise its potential extremely quickly.”

Some classrooms have already been painted golden cream with royal blue woodwork and Mr Stenton is pleased with the results. “They look really good so we will be carrying on throughout the whole school,” he said.

Former assistant Catherine Szabo and new recruit from Dorset Darren Lawrence have been appointed deputy headtecahers and four assistant headteachers have also been appointed from within the school.

“We are going in the right direction now and the results are showing,” said Mr Stenton.