Students to wear 'suit' uniforms

The academy's new building will open in 2010

Pupils at a new £45m school in Lancashire will wear business suits as uniforms, dispense with timetables and learn how to become entrepreneurs.

Work is due to start on the Darwen Aldridge Academy in Redearth Road, Blackburn, next month.

The development of the site has been delayed after it prompted opposition by some residents.

The 1,600-pupil school, which also has a sixth form, will be one a handful in the UK to focus on entrepreneurship.

Students at the Darwen Moorland school, which will be replaced by the new academy, have designed the uniform which is a "business-style" suit.

'No bells'

The school will begin operating at Darwen Moorland, until the new building is completed in 2010.

Brendan Loughran, the principal, said: "We are certainly not afraid to do things differently.

"We are doing away with school bells and traditional timetable structures and our school day will be made up of two main learning sessions with staggered breaks.

"Our curriculum will be flexible enough to allow all students to find their strengths and develop them both in traditional academic subjects and in our industry-standard Vocational Skills Centre.

"There will be a learning session every week for every year group focussing on entrepreneurship related knowledge, skills and attitudes."