Pupils will dress school for young

A NEW school which aims to produce entrepreneurs of the future is shelving uniforms in favour of gender-neutral “business-appropriate attire”.

Sir Simon Milton Westminster University Technology College wants teenagers to wear “sober suits” and adopt the open-collared dress style of Sir Richard Branson in class.

The 550-pupil free school in Pimlico is under construction and due to open in September, with facilities including a robotic lab, 3D printers and superfast broadband. It will specialise in construction and transport engineering.

Pupils at the non-selective secondary will study GCSEs and A-levels, and be expected to work from 8.30am to 5pm to ready them for the business world.

The curriculum includes work experience, with pupils spending half their time applying classroom learning to real projects run by “industry supporters”, such as Network Rail’s London Bridge redevelopment. Principal Karen Barker said: “Students will be working with graduates and apprentices at these companies so it makes perfect sense for them to wear business clothes.

“It needs to be welcoming to all — it will be a sober suit, and we won’t insist on ties, which also get in the way if they are working on practical stuff.

“I’m working hard to make sure it’s gender neutral. I’m very keen on getting as many girls as boys. At the moment we have slightly more girls than boys who have applied for Year 10.”

The school is named after Sir Simon Milton, the former leader of Westminster council, who died from leukaemia aged 49 in 2011. Industry supporters are Network Rail, Transport for London, BT Fleet, Alstom, Land Securities and Sir Robert McAlpine. Classes will have a maximum 26 pupils.

Ms Barker added: “Students will get used to standing up and presenting to people.” The 5,200 square metre site next to the tracks into Victoria station