A Wirral school that banned designer coats in a bid to stop “poverty shaming” has introduced another controversial uniform policy.

Woodchurch High School has announced that from September, pupils will only be allowed to wear its specific branded coats.

Pupils have also been told the coats are only available to buy at one shop, and any others will be against the rules – in a move that has angered some parents.

One parent, who wished to remain anonymous, said: “There’s been a bit of an outcry to be honest as we have been informed we are forbidden to buy it anywhere else.

“Another uniform shop has this coat for sale too but we cannot purchase it from there. Some parents are unable to get to the shop in Moreton where it’s on sale.

“The headteacher and assistant head are coming under fire.”

The only shop where parents can buy the coat is Design and Stitch Schoolwear in Moreton.

The designs available – both unisex – are a puffer-style jacket, with the other a Regatta-style, featuring a fleece layer inside.

The mum we have spoken to complained that because the Woodchurch-branded toggle can’t be removed, it’s “unusable” outside of school.

Accusing the school of “money making”, she added: “[There are] complaints of having to buy separate coats for home. A number of lower income families [may have] spent £10 on a coat for winter, but will [now have to buy another].

“Parents are threatening to send their children to school in generic coats, and send letters to the school governors.”

Rebekah Phillips, headteacher at the Carr Bridge Road secondary school, refuted many of the allegations.

She said in introducing a ‘school coat’, staff consulted with pupils to settle on the two designs as part of its “poverty-proofing agenda”.

She said: “The coats do not have the school logo on them, rather they have a small “W” on the zip as an identifying feature. This will enable pupils to wear the coat outside of school.”

Ms Phillips said as well as being available from the shop in Moreton, they will be available during school induction, and at parents’ evening.

She added that the coats were a “high quality product to withstand the rigour of teenage usage along with inclement weather”.

“Woodchurch High School is concerned that parents and carers are made aware that this venture continues to be focused around poverty proofing,” she added.

“Design and Stitch, along with other uniform suppliers, are independent in supplying uniform to parents/carers. Woodchurch High School is not involved in any financial transactions.”

The coats cost between £20 and £25, and Ms Phillips added: “We try to make our uniform as simple and affordable as possible and trust that the decisions we make are for the benefit of all members of all our community, including parents and carers.”

The move comes after the school’s decision last year to ban expensive, designer coats in a policy that was backed by many parents.

It was announced that from 2019, pupils would not be allowed to wear branded coats such as Moncler, Canada Goose and Pyrenex to avoid children being stigmatised – and increasing the cost of the school day to parents and carers.