BY THEIR own admission, they were not the smartest pupils in the city.
Feeling stereotyped and scruffy, pupils at Kingswood Academy were forced to accept that was the impression of them in the community.
But now, they have been transformed with new tailored suits given to them free by the academy.
Each pupil was individually measured for the uniform, which they say is helping to transform their image and earn them admiring glances.
Pupils are also regularly stopped in the street to be asked which school they are from.
They say it is also helping them to knuckle down in class.
James Hanson, 15, said: "Although we had a new school, we were still considered bottom of the rankings in Hull and the most scruffy pupils.
"We were stereotyped and people looked down on us.
"Now, if they see us, they don't know what to think.
"We have been getting stopped by people asking which school we are from and when we tell them Kingswood, they have a big shock on their face.
"They think we are scruffy and it is nice to show them we are smart and ready to learn.
"We are proud around the community and proud to wear what we are and to go to the school we go to."
The sixth form pupils have been kitted out with their own tailored grey suit which has deliberately not had a logo put on so they are able to use it out of school for interviews or weddings.
James said: "Having this as a uniform makes me feel like I stand out.
"It is a different colour from the rest of the school and it makes us look smart."
Abbie Simpson, 15, said: "It is nice having the different colour uniform because it is nice to feel we are recognised as the oldest in the school.
"In lessons, it is a lot quieter now, people feel more comfortable and it is not as rowdy. "It has helped us to buckle down."
Previously pupils would wear a mix and match uniform, which made all the pupils look different.
It included either a plain black jumper or one with a logo. Pupils could either wear a shirt and tie or a polo shirt. Some girls wore leggings, others trousers and some skirts.
Now, pupils not in Year 11 are dressed in tailored suits, which include blazers, a colour-coded tie depending on year group, black jumpers and skirts or trousers.
Chloe McDonald, 12, said: "The old uniform was horrible. I didn't feel confident coming to school. It didn't look very nice.
"Now I feel more confident. Everyone looks the same and no one can say anything about what you look like.
"You feel proud to come here seeing everyone so smart and we are more confident about walking around in the uniform."
Melissa Hooper, 14, said: "When they first told us about the new uniforms, we thought 'Oh, we will have to fork out for a different one when we have just changed it.'
"Then they told us it was free and it was really nice. "The uniform is great, we all look the same.
"When I was walking to school with some of my friends, the Year 11s from last year were looking at us and thinking how smart we were. It gives us confidence."
