Primary school scraps controversial rule ordering kids as young as three to do ‘University Walk’ with hands behind their back at all time
Children as young as three were told they must walk in the 'correct way' in school corridors
A PRIMARY school has scrapped a controversial rule ordering children to walk with their hands behind their backs 'at all times' after a backlash from parents.
Schoolkids as young as three were told last year that 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 posh universities - such as Oxford, Cambridge and St Andrews - were told to walk in bygone years.
The 214-pupils at the outstanding-rated St George the Martyr Primary School in Camden, north London, were told to walk with their hands 'clasped behind their backs' when on the school premises.
Executive headteacher Angela Abrahams brought in the rule last year, 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Mrs Abrahams, however, left her job before the summer holidays and has been replaced by new headteacher Adam Young, who has 'quietly' dropped the order that kids walk with their hands behind their backs.
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Mr Young is believed to have been alerted to the 'unpopularity' of the rule - which tells all kids at the school, aged 3-11, to walk with their hands 'clasped behind their backs' when on the school premises - by staff and parents.
Speaking this week, 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.
"There is so much going on in their heads that they do not need to constantly be reprimanded for walking in a perfectly natural way with their arms down by their sides.
"Children do not naturally walk with their hands behind their backs - they are not Lord Snooty, they are little kids trying their best to learn."
She added: "It's a blessed relief that all the nonsense has now been scrapped now that a new headteacher has taken over.
"Now kids can get back to being kids."
Another parent, again unnamed, said the walk was 'akin to prisoners being moved jails', adding: "School is for learning and developing your mind, not walking single file like prisoners on a chain gang."
Mum-of-two Maisie Rowe told the newspaper this week: “They have quietly shelved the rule.
"I think it just faded away last year as teachers stopped enforcing it and then it has gone this school year.”
Speaking last November, former head Angela Abrahams said: "Our recently introduced ‘University Walk’ inspires children to be the best they can be and to ‘go shine in the world'.
"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.”
Sun Online has contacted the school for comment.
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