A HEAD teacher has banned ties less than 10 inches long as part of moves to tighten rules and tackle problems at a failing school.

The uniform clampdown, which also includes a ban on skirts above knee length, has been introduced as part of changes aimed at turning round Darwen's Moorland High School.

New head Gareth Dawkins has tightened up the rules in the four weeks since he began trying to raise teaching and learning standards.

And as one of many key changes, ranging from attendance to leadership, he has demanded pupils comply as a sign of the school's "health."

Mr Dawkins emphasised that the white and blue striped school ties should be at least four bars long, roughly from the collar to the waistband, and around 10 inches.

Any pupils not keeping to the stated lengths will be asked to alter their uniforms or go home and get changed if practical to do so.

He said: "I recognise that uniform as an issue is much less important than ensuring significant improvements in teaching and learning and behaviour.

"However, we all want to be part of a school we can be proud of. One of the important characteristics of an improving school is that students look smart and feel proud to be identified with their school. Pupils have really bought into the changes in uniform.

"As an indicator of the state of a school, it is not the only thing, but it is usually not a bad one."

The school was put into special measures by education inspectors from Ofsted in February.

The governors were suspended and head teacher Richard Bridges retired after 14 years soon afterwards.

Mr Dawkins was drafted in from Bradford Local Education Authority, where he was known for "outstanding" leadership. There has already been an increase in the take-up of before and after school study clubs.

A full page advertisement was recently published in the Times Education Supplement for top level teachers to fill senior leadership and Key Stage teams.

All teachers have been assessed to identify weak areas and the suspended governors are working with an interim executive, with Blackburn with Darwen Council retaining delegated powers over budget issues.

The head said: "The parents are tending to send their daughters in with knee-length skirts but some of them are rolling the skirts over at the waistband and the skirts end up shorter than their blazers.

"Obviously, to get some students back into school uniform was going to cost some parents some unplanned expense.

"We have therefore made some concessions when parents have indicated that they will support our efforts, but will need a few weeks to provide the uniform required."

Mr Dawkins said he would also be consulting parents about a new summer uniform.

"During the summer months we have lots of shirt collars undone and ties at half mast. Perhaps we will have a summer uniform which is cooler in both meanings of the word."

The head is now planning focus evenings for parents as a forum for improvements. At a recent Year 10 parent's evening, he took it upon himself to look into any issues of parent concern.

He said: "We need to stop a spiral of decline in performance. The hardest part is presuming everything here is bad which simply is not true and pupils just feel stigmatised."