We’re furious after strict primary school made our kids serve lunch and walk in a certain way
PARENTS have hit out at a primary school after it introduced a new “Behavioural Curriculum”.
Harnham Junior School in Salisbury, Wilts, introduced the changes when the school restarted after the Christmas break.
Concerns were raised over what parents believed were strict new rules which included making pupils walking with their hands behind their backs, being “forced” to sing before lunch, discuss certain topics and Year 6 students being treated as “waiters and waitresses”.
However, the school has strongly denied all of the accusations, saying they were just rumours.
An emergency meeting is now due to be held today between headteacher Luke Coles and parents to discuss the issue.
Tim Bevington, 41, who has three children at the school, said: "Lunchtime is supposed to be when the kids can freely enjoy time with friends. They should be allowed to bond with their chosen friendship groups, not be forced to sit with people they don't know.
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"My children are not waiters and waitresses, the kids should be responsible for their own mess.
"And giving them a topic and forcing them to talk about it, in my opinion that's another lesson. Lunchtime should be time for them to relax and get ready for afternoon lessons.
"It's all completely ridiculous. I will not have my kids being forced to walk in the halls with their hands behind their backs like they are in a detention centre or concentration camp.
"I don't know what the school is playing at but I'm fuming and have written to them complaining."
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One mum, who wants to remain anonymous, said: "My son came home really upset and scared. He is worried about going into school now.
"It's making a lot of children uncomfortable and anxious about going to school and I think making them walk with their hands behind their back is ridiculous.
"And the fact they didn't inform parents beforehand is disgusting."
Nick Snook, 35, whose daughters attend the school, said: "I don't understand what they think the benefits of these rules will be. They seem to be punishing everyone because of a few children misbehaving.
"It's madness. I can't see how this will be good for the majority of kids, it sounds more like a military school or prison camp than a primary teaching children as young as seven."
On social media others jokingly questioned if the headteacher was Kim Jong-Un and many parents said they would be pulling their children out if this was their school.
However, the school has moved to dispel the various “rumours”.
'INACCURATE RUMOURS'
In a letter to parents from the headteacher Luke Coles, he said there had been “inaccurate rumours on social media” and maintained the school continued to “to have the children’s best interests at the heart of everything that we do.”
Addressing the issue of children being brought into lunch late so that others can see they have misbehaved was “untrue” and went against “the values and ethos of our school, and everyone who works here”.
The point about pupils being “forced to sing” was also rejected as being untrue.
Mr Coles wrote: “No one is forced to sing; the singing at the start of lunch is not only meant to be enjoyable and social (we use fun songs that the children know) but also allows everyone to arrive in the hall, so that all the children are able to sit down and eat together at the same time.”
Also dismissed as being untrue was the issue of discussion topics.
The letter said: “it is untrue that the children must discuss this point and also untrue that any child is forced to stand up and speak about it. The topic is intended to start conversation – for example – ‘Which is your favourite pet?’ Children volunteer to share their thoughts and only speak if they would like to do so.
The rumour Year 6 children were being seen as “servants” was also rejected by the school.
It said: “The purpose of the children helping one another is similar to any prefect role in school. The majority of children thrive on additional responsibilities. It also helps all children to appreciate one another.
The school also took issue with the rumour about pupils being “forced to walk behind their backs”.
'SMART WALKING'
This was also said to be untrue, but did add it encouraged “smart walking”.
The letter added: “At the start of this term children were encouraged (not forced) to have hands just behind their backs/just at sides as a way to highlight the need to think about how we walk around school.”
Concluding the letter, the school did apologise for “any anxiety that has been caused” by “not communicating the changes before they were implemented."
In a previous letter to parents outlining the new 'Behavioural Curriculum', assistant headteacher Ruth Fletcher said they didn't consult with parents as they thought it would “cause unnecessary angst”.
The letter stated they were basing the new rules on research by Bill Rogers, a British education consultant and author of behaviour management books, Doug Lemov, a US educator and author, and Tom Bennett, the lead behaviour advisor for the Department for Education.
Miss Fletcher said: "This isn't something that has just been decided without any thought. Extensive research has been used, not to mention other schools visited by staff to identify what has been tried, tested and works.
"I recognise that when you hear what we are trying to implement it does sound very formal, however when you see the results it is far more relaxed than it actually sounds.
"Changes that we have introduced will have a huge impact on creating a much calmer atmosphere and will help to ensure all children enjoy coming into school daily."
She said some children had said lunchtimes were often too loud and not very pleasant.
The school said it now had “Family Lunch” sittings involving a mix of all years.
The letter said: "This reinforces the value of the older children being role models to the younger children and also allows the children to mix with others who might not be in their immediate circle of friends, encouraging an atmosphere of inclusivity, extending friendship opportunities and practising making new friends."
It said the children would sing along to a familiar song to allow the whole 'family group' to arrive before sitting down to eat, making the start of lunch calmer, and a discussion topic would be shared “to promote talk around the table because research shows children who eat at a formal dinner table have improved vocabulary”.
Referring to the hands behind the back issue, the letter said: "Research, and experience, shows that it is difficult to run without moving your arms and so the routine of children having their hands behind them encourages all children to walk.
"It also prevents the temptation of using their hands in other ways that might not be acceptable.
"Obviously, there are times, for example, when walking down stairs, when this would not be a good idea and so children would be expected to use their hands/arms in the usual way to steady themselves."
A statement from Harnham Junior School said: "We have made some changes to our lunchtime routines after feedback from some of our pupils. While we did mention to parents we would be looking at changes, we should have explained more how these would be rolled out.
"There has been misinformation on social media around some changes and we have contacted parents to clarify these misconceptions.
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"The changes, with feedback from our pupils and wider school, are already having a positive impact and creating a calm atmosphere around the school and for pupils starting lessons.
"We look forward to continuing to work together with parents as we ensure lunchtimes are enjoyable for all our pupils."
