PROTOTYPES of potential new Tavistock College uniforms are to be created over the summer from designs produced by students.

The ideas will be showcased to the rest of the student body, parents and the wider community in a fashion show this autumn, giving the whole of Tavistock the chance to contribute to the new uniform.

Personal development lead teacher Eva Pearson, who is coordinating the students' work on the project, said: 'We invited students to apply to work with professional designers to produce ideas for a new uniform which would suit the demands of the students' day to day life in college.

'Each group has designed a uniform and these will be created over the summer holidays so the community can view the students' work and advise us as to which parts or whole uniform they like best and why.'

The young designers spent a week working with professionals, students from University College Falmouth and practitioners from the Arts Council. They researched potential designs and incorporated feedback given by other Tavistock College students.

They considered the messages clothing can communicate and thought about materials and the age, gender and ethical issues involved in producing a uniform.

Student designer Lauren Hill said: 'My group came up with lots of girls' designs and decided on slightly baggy trousers for boys and a hat inspired by the rest of the uniform.

'We've been mixing and matching uniforms and working on colours and thinking about whether boys and girls should have different uniforms and if age differences mattered. I would love the chance to wear all this.'

Nathan Turnock said his group would be suggesting a white polo shirt with house colours on the collar and hem of the sleeve, as well as black hoodies with 'Tavistock College' written down one side.

'We've been deciding on what would be comfortable, practical and smart so we thought they would be good for the job,' he added.

The uniform show will take place in autumn this year, with a final design chosen in December. Approval from the new principal and governors is expected to be given in January 2011, and there will be a phased introduction of the uniform for new students from September 2011.