Head bans fizzy juice and gum

Published on Thursday 19 August 2010 12:49

A HEADTEACHER has imposed a ban on fizzy drinks and chewing gum to keep her new school clean and tidy.

Lorraine Legrix, head of Holy Rood High in Duddingston, said the move was necessary to "look after" the recently-opened building and would also benefit pupils' healthy eating.

But while many parents have been supportive, others say it is going too far.

In her most recent newsletter to parents, Ms Legrix said: "It is really important that we do all that we can to look after our excellent school and its grounds and again I ask for your help in reminding pupils that there is an absolute ban on chewing gum on school premises.

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"Cans of fizzy juice are also not allowed in school (there is an important health reason for this too!)"

The new Holy Rood High was opened last August as part of a 180 million PPP2 school re-building programme.

The Scottish Parent Teacher Council today questioned the "wisdom" of such a ban.

Its executive director Eileen Prior said: "Our position is that children have to learn to make these choices.

"A number of schools have gone down the road of banning particular items and they have the power to do that.

"However, I think the wisdom of it is questionable because whatever you do in school, children will react to that and they have the opportunity to make their own choices outwith school."

However, the school's parent body said it has been supportive of the ruling by Ms Legrix.

Paul Iannetta, chair of the parent council at Holy Rood High, said: "This is something we have been trying to implement for a while, but it's been a tricky one to implement.

"We have got a lovely new school and the last thing we want is things getting destroyed.

"The idea came from the school originally, with the support of the parent council."

Karen Ritchie, whose 14-year-old daughter Dionne is a pupil at the school, also supports the decision.

She said: "If the school catches them with it, it will be taken off them and I'm in agreement with that."

A council spokesman said the ban on fizzy drinks and gum applies in the school building only.

He added: "The school is very keen to avoid having sticky gum and sticky fizzy juice around the inside of the school.

"It causes a mess and it's very unpleasant."