Lucky blazer helping Pennthorpe students

The blue felt jacket is a spare handed out to Pennthorpe School pupils who worry that their clothes look scruffy before an interview with a future headmaster.

But staff believe wearing it has helped at least three children at the Rudgwick prep school claim top honours in the past 12 months alone.

The latest is Hughie Ragg, 12, from Billingshurst -- pictured -- who, with the blazer on, won an art and sports award to Wellington College, Berkshire, in January. His 13-year-old sister Sophie gained the same scholarship wearing the ‘magic’coat in 2013.

And William Johnston, 14, from Cranleigh, won a scholarship to Brighton College while borrowing it -- one of 23 successes for the school last year.

Hughie this week donned it again for an academic scholarship exam at Wellington. He said: “I hope my chances of getting it are quite high. I’ll have to wait and see how the competition got on.

“The lucky blazer has certainly helped me and other candidates who have worn it.”

Headmaster’s wife Emily King, who looks after the jacket when it’s not on loan, said: “I always keep it handy in the uniform shop because sometimes when Year 8 pupils are going to senior school interviews their parents realise they look a bit scruffy and borrow it at the last minute.

“We like to think the lucky blazer has done its bit to help -- but we can’t forget all the hard work done by our pupils and their teachers.”

Report and picture contributed by Pennthorpe School.