Parents and pupils have reacted positively to a 'smart' new school uniform unveiled for the first time yesterday.

Children at IES Breckland, a new free school opening in September at Brandon, will be expected to wear grey blazers, trimmed with the school colours of light blue and purple, with black trousers and a purple jumper for boys and a purple and grey checked skirt and purple cardigan for girls.

Principal Sherry Zand said the idea was to reflect what the pupils would have to wear to work when they grew up, at an affordable price.

'The feedback we've had has been really positive and they look really smart,' she said.

'There's not another uniform like this in the town – it's preparing them for the real world.'

The school will replace Breckland Middle School, which is set to close in July under a Suffolk County Council education shake-up, which has paved the way for a community-run educational trust – Sabres (Save Breckland School) – and a Swedish-owned private company to establish IES Breckland.

The school, the first in England to use an education provider, is due to open on September 10, with induction days on September 5, 6 and 7.

Ms Zand added that servicemen from RAF Lakenheath had volunteered to help bring the former middle school building up to scratch when the keys were handed over on August 1.

A second uniform day will be held at a later date, as well as a day for pupils to meet their new teachers on June 9.

rebecca.gough@archant.co.uk