School ‘makes pupils eat lunch outside in freezing cold’ to prevent spread of Covid
School ‘makes pupils eat their lunch outside in freezing cold temperatures’ to prevent spread of Covid sparking fury from parents
Bulwell Academy branded ‘disgusting’ by parents for ‘making pupils eat outside’ Nottingham school said anti-Covid measure creates more space between pupilsParents claimed benches were wet while one said her child was left ‘wet through’School previously branded ‘army camp’ for requiring doctor’s note to go to toilet
<!–
<!–
<!–<!–
<!–
(function (src, d, tag){
var s = d.createElement(tag), prev = d.getElementsByTagName(tag)[0];
s.src = src;
prev.parentNode.insertBefore(s, prev);
}(“https://www.dailymail.co.uk/static/gunther/1.17.0/async_bundle–.js”, document, “script”));
<!–
DM.loadCSS(“https://www.dailymail.co.uk/static/gunther/gunther-2159/video_bundle–.css”);
<!–
Fuming parents have branded a school ‘disgusting’ after discovering their children are being asked to eat their lunch outside in the ‘freezing cold’ in a bid to prevent the spread of coronavirus.
Bulwell Academy in Nottingham said the measure is part of its anti-Covid strategy and is designed to create more space between pupils and therefore lower the risk of virus transmission.
But parents claim there are not enough seats for all the pupils and that the benches are soaking wet, insisting classrooms or other indoor spaces be used instead.
Hitting back at the complaints, the academy said most students in Years 7 and 8 ‘preferred to be outside’ anyway, and that a school hall was available to the latter year group if they wanted to eat indoors.
It comes after the Academy – once described as an ‘army camp’ – previously came under fire for asking pupils to produce a doctor’s note if they wanted to go to the toilet during lesson time.
One parent, who asked not to be named, said: ‘It’s freezing cold and they’re stood outside eating their lunch.
Bulwell Academy in Nottingham (pictured) said the measure is part of its anti-Covid strategy and is designed to create more space between pupils and therefore lower the risk of virus transmission
‘It’s absolutely disgusting, there’s not enough seats for them either.
‘I’ve tried speaking to the school… They should at least have a classroom to sit in and eat… I was so frustrated.’
Another parent, who also didn’t want to be named, said the school needed to do more.
She said: ‘I’m not happy at all, my daughter came in wet through yesterday.
‘They need to do something as they are all standing up outside.
‘There are benches but they’re wet through – I feel sorry for the kids. If they’re outside all lunch they’re not having any warmth.
‘The school need to do something like different time slots for each year to eat and make sure they’ve got a place to eat… It’s really bad.’
A Bulwell Academy spokesperson said: ‘Measures to reduce the risk of coronavirus spreading include using outdoor space during breaks and lunchtime, rather than having hundreds of students in a confined area.
‘The vast majority of Years 7 and 8 choose to be outside, with staff on duty checking their welfare.
‘But we have opened the hall to Year 8s for those preferring to be inside.
‘Parents are encouraged to contact the Academy if there are any issues.’
Mail Online has contacted Bulwell Academy for comment.
A Bulwell Academy spokesperson said: ‘Measures to reduce the risk of coronavirus spreading include using outdoor space during breaks and lunchtime, rather than having hundreds of students in a confined area’. (file photo)
In September, headteacher Brad Nash defended a policy asking pupils for a doctor’s note so they can go to the toilet during lesson time.
One parent, whose daughter was given a dispensation pass on the back of a doctor’s letter, said the education centre was like a ‘military academy’, while another said she had to pay £30 for a note from her GP so her daughter could have a toilet pass while on her period.
Mr Nash said: ‘A new behaviour strategy, aiming for 100 per cent disruption-free lessons, was introduced to the Bulwell Academy in January 2021 and has been communicated regularly to students and carers.
‘As a result, our classrooms have become focused places of teaching and learning with much-improved student academic outcomes.
‘Students report feeling safer and more confident both in and between lessons.
‘We encourage students to visit the toilet during breaks and lunch and understand that some will need to be excused during lessons.
‘For this reason the new behaviour strategy introduced a fair, consistent and equitable approach requiring medical exemption letters to support those who need it.
‘We are aware of GPs charging £30 for a medical exemption letter. It very uncommon for GPs to levy this charge.
‘The parent concerned is aware that the Academy has contacted the GP to challenge the charge.
‘We await a response and will ensure that, if the GP refuses to rescind their charge, we will reimburse the money.’
