The ruling at Market Harborough Church of England Academy in Leicestershire is also in force according to the Daily Mail when youngsters finish their lunchtime break and return to classrooms.
The head teacher of the school, whose ethos is 'In the Christian faith, giving of our best, growing in knowledge and kindness', insists the rule is for the 'safety' of pupils and to encourage a 'calm' atmosphere.
However, some parents have blasted the rule as excessively harsh.
A mother of two children at the school who wished to remain anonymous said: "'Even the youngest pupils are expected to do it.
"It's far too much when they're only four and just getting used to school in the first place.
"This regime is draconian. It's like a boot camp. It's 2017, not the dark ages. I'm really angry about this. I find it very upsetting. I know other parents feel the same."
She added that it could be dangerous for pupils to have their arms behind their backs if they stumbled.
A father who also has children at the school and wished to remain unnamed said: "I can't speak for everyone but it's like going back to Victorian times.
"I know lots of parents are outraged about it and have raised it with the school.
"It seems to be one of a number of changes the new head teacher has brought in since starting in September."
Head teacher Emma Taylor sent a letter to parents last week acknowledging some of their concerns about the school's new regulations.
Taylor said the rule was introduced after a number of pupils had been injured or knocked on the way into school by children that were running.
She told Premier: "As a school, we are keen to ensure that we have effective strategies in place so that children can move calmly and safely around our building during the busier times of the school day.
"With over 400 pupils, asking children to think carefully about where they place their hands at these times is a simple way to encourage courtesy and kindness to one another.
"The school has seen a positive impact as a result of the strategies introduced, with children moving in and around the building more calmly and more ready to learn.
"We are a listening school; we acknowledge that parents have differing opinions and we take their views very seriously. As a result of discussions we have been having with parents over the last two weeks, we have already made adjustments, prior to any media interest in the story.
"We have an open door policy and would urge parents to use the channels available in school to share their contributions. We will continue to work in close partnership with parents to provide the very best opportunities we can for the children in our care."
The school's behaviour and discipline policy states that children 'grow in a safe and secure environment and become positive, responsible and increasingly independent members of the school community'.
