A primary school is sticking to a new rule that children must walk with their hands clasped behind their backs, despite grumblings from some parents that it is too “dictatorial”.

The “university walk”, for pupils walking down corridors, was introduced by the new executive headteacher, Angela Abrahams, at St George the Martyr primary school in Holborn, central London.

Some parents have started a petition against the rule and education chiefs at the town hall are understood to have been alerted to unrest at the school gates.

“I am personally quite against it, I think it’s too dictatorial,” Chantal Aster, a parent, told the New Camden Journal. It’s from one extreme to another. My son is in reception and they walk in a conga line. I think it is a pretty poor way to increase their self esteem.”

She added: “I think just having hands by their sides would be more natural. I know it’s only through the corridors but I think it’s too restrictive and I find it very repressive.”

Carly Taylor, who has three children at the school, told the paper: “The head is bringing over lots of strategies that are not in keeping with the nurturing and caring feel of our school. I think our identity needs to be protected ... Hands behind the backs is associated with a loss of liberty and lack of trust.”

The school has insisted it will stick to the policy despite complaints from parents. Abrahams said: “Our recently introduced university walk inspires children to be the best they can be and to ‘go shine in the world’ [the school’s motto].

“It was introduced to strengthen pupil safety, further raise the aspirations of pupils and to maximise learning time. Staff report that they appreciate the impact it has had on learning time and pupils continue to be very happy and excited about learning.”

Rev Guy Pope, the school’s chairman, backed Abrahams: “I think parents are not looking out for the best interests of their children. It [the rule] is helping to make sure children arrive in class in the best possible frame of mind for learning, in a calm and ordered manner.”