St George the Martyr Primary School criticised for walking rule which 'makes primary pupils like prisoners'

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A primary school has been accused of treating pupils “like prisoners” by demanding that they walk with their hands behind their backs at all times.

Parents criticised St George the Martyr Primary School in central London for introducing the rule, dubbed the “university walk”. Pupils across all years – from five to 11 – are required to keep their hands clasped behind their backs while walking around the school, except at playtime.

Angela Abrahams, the new executive headteacher, said the measure inspires pupils to “be the best they can be” and helps to improve their safety.

But parents said that comparisons have been drawn with prisoners moving around jails. One father, 34, who has a child at the Church of England state school and wished to remain anonymous, said nine out of 10 parents at the school were against it .

“The whole principle of getting kids to walk in single file with hands behind their backs is an antiquated and disciplinarian approach to school life,” he said. A mother, 41, with a child at the school, said: “It looks very much like they are prisoners.”

Ms Abrahams said: “Since introducing the [rule] we have seen a 93 per cent reduction in recorded incidents in school.”