Padiham school bans crisps, sweets and fizzy drinks (From Lancashire Telegraph)

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Padiham school bans crisps, sweets and fizzy drinks

9:30am Wednesday 7th October 2009 in Padiham Photograph of the Author By Tyrone Marshall, Reporter

TUCKING IN: Shuttleworth headteacher Martin Burgess with pupils, from left, Adam Woolford, 12, Sally Coupe, 12, Sophie Balmbra, 11, Helen Redfern, 12, and Kenan Taylor, 12

SWEETS, crisps and fizzy drinks have been banned from a Burnley super-school.

Martin Burgess, head of Shuttleworth College, Padiham, made the decision to improve pupils’ behaviour and concentration as well as encourage healthy eating.

Mr Burgess said the snacks had a “detrimental affect” on his young students and would be confiscated if brought onto school grounds.

Letters have now been sent to the parents outlining the schools’s hardline approach to unhealthy snacking.

Mr Burgess said: “Children are hyper enough without being stuffed full of e-numbers at lunchtime.

“On the whole the campaign has been welcomed by the students and parents.

“The children are starting to understand that we will not tolerate the sort of foods which will have a detrimental effect on their learning.

“Some parents have contacted us about specific dietary requirements, which we have of course met, but generally it is working.

Mr Burgess said that last year some students at the school were removed from lessons after causing disruptions whilst eating crisps and sweets.

Now any students at the 800 pupil school caught with any of the blacklisted foods will have their snack confiscated and returned to them at the end of the school day.

He said the ban was already having an affect at the school.

“In previous years we had problems with concentration and behaviour after lunch but it does seem to have approved now we have banned fizzy drinks and snacks,” Mr Burgess said.

As part of the health initiative the school is also pulling no punches on students caught smoking on the premises and has also issued an outright ban on chewing gum.

The headteacher’s letter to parents said: “Those students who will not accept our code of conduct or will not accept the support offered have no place within our college.”

According to the Government most children in the UK eat too much fat, particularly saturated fat, added sugars and salt which can have a detrimental affect on their health and learning.

Julie Hemingway, who works for the Healthy Eating Active Living campaign based in Burnley and Padiham, said Mr Burgess’s idea was a good one.

She said: “The school is definitely on the right road with the new crackdown on unhealthy foods.

“Crisps, sweets and fizzy drinks will not only harm the health of the child but also affect concentration levels.

“The school may find it tough at first to implement these rules, but in the long run they will see it is a sound idea and parents in and around Padiham will support it.”

The ban has also coincided with a revamp of food available in the school’s canteen, following a call by pupils.

Mr Burgess said: “The kids really took the healthy food issue to heart and carried it by themselves.

“The food which is now served at breakfast and at lunch is simply fantastic. It’s great to see over half of our pupils turning up at 8.15 to eat their breakfast.”

Pupils yesterday said they thought the ban was a good idea, although they missed their sugary treats, Emma Stott, 13, said: “I enjoy sweets and crisps so its a shame they are gone, but at least we are eating healthier food now, which is good.”

Chantelle Howarth, 13, said: “I think one of the benefits is that we all concentrate more after lunchtime now that we haven’t been snacking and eating sweets at lunch.”

And Paige Lord, 13, said: “I don’t enjoy the ban really, I miss the chocolate and crisps at lunch time and break time, but I guess there are some benefits.”

Padiham town councillor Bob Clark said it was important that children got a balenced diet but the decision on what youngsters eat should be made by their parents.

He said: “Maybe a total ban is a bit draconian but the school will have put a lot of thought into the decision and discussed it with parents and governors.”le

Comments(23)

abdul786 says...
9:36am Wed 7 Oct 09

Superb idea! I think we need you desperately back at Marsden Heights( formerly edge end) to save the school. Its missing you Martin, is there anyway you can come back.
When you were there we had urdu classes, friday prayer time off but since you left the school it is shambles. Come back to Pendle and put your ideas there, we need you.