An ‘outstanding’ primary school has been forced to back down on a rule ordering children to walk with their hands clasped behind their backs 'at all times' after a revolt from parents, it has emerged.

Last year pupils at St George the Martyr Primary School in Camden, north London, were told they must walk in the 'correct way' in school corridors, which school bosses called the 'University Walk'.

The term is believed to derive from how students at elite universities - such as Oxford, Cambridge and St Andrews - were told to walk in bygone years.

'Maximise learning time' and 'raise their aspirations'

Angela Abrahams brought in the rule last year when she was head teacher, much to the fury of parents, in a bid to "strengthen pupil safety, maximise learning time" and "raise their aspirations".

Parents, however, were horrified, with some saying their kids looked like "something out of a chain gang".

Mrs Abrahams, however, left her job before the summer holidays and has been replaced by new head teacher Adam Young, who has 'quietly' dropped the order.

Mr Young is believed to have been alerted to the 'unpopularity' of the rule by staff and parents.

One parent - who asked not to be named - said: "It was like the children were living ion the 18th century. What so-called educators forget is that this is a primary school where children are just beginning to learn.