Pupils at Devizes School have voted to ditch their existing school uniform of polo shirts and sweatshirts for blazers, shirts and ties.

Teachers and governors were surprised at the strength of feeling among the 1,200 pupils in wishing to return to a traditional school uniform.

Blazers are believed to have been last worn at the school more than 30 years ago and ties were last worn in 2003.

Governors were keen to incorporate the four houses into the uniform so pupils were consulted and when asked if they wanted to change to blazers and ties 82 per cent voted in favour.

A student forum comprising 12 pupils came up with different designs and put them to the vote.

They also talked to Scholars shop, which sells school uniforms, and came up with a pricing policy that is cheaper than the current uniform.

The new uniform will be black blazers with the school logo on the breast pocket, and Devizes School written underneath, a new addition.

The dark tie will be striped and the colour of the stripes will be those of the four houses – red for Teresa, blue for King, yellow for Mandela and green for Gandhi.

Comments from pupils were that blazers and ties will make them look more professional and cool.

Student forum member Tom Mullings, 15, said: “Our uniform doesn’t look as smart as other schools.

“Our polo shirts and sweatshirts are quite similar to primary schools’ uniform and when you are at secondary school you want something more grown up.”

Student forum member Rhiannon Owen, 14, said some pupils thought the current uniform too informal.

Iona Johnstone, 14, another student forum member, said: “I don’t really mind the current uniform but we are one of the only schools around here that has jumpers.

“The new uniform will result in people looking better and more a part of Devizes School.”

Barbara Smart, assistant headteacher at Devizes School, said: “It wasn’t our intention to change the uniform as radically as this. We hadn’t had any complaints from the students about the current uniform but once we had the questionnaire results back it was very apparent students did want a change.”

The new uniform will be compulsory to new Year 7 pupils this September and optional for other year groups until September 2013 when it becomes compulsory.