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School Creates 'No Pay, No Play' Scheme For Kids Whose Parents Didn't Make Kit Donations

School Creates 'No Pay, No Play' Scheme For Kids Whose Parents Didn't Make Kit Donations

A UK primary school has caused uproar after creating different 'zones' to stop kids playing with equipment their parents didn't pay for

Chris Ogden

Chris Ogden

School is meant to be the great leveller. If your family can't afford the latest console for you to play at home, at least you can turn up to school and use the swings like all the other kids.

Well, not in one UK school, which has split children up in the playground to stop kids using equipment their parents haven't paid for.

Wednesbury Oak Academy, in Tipton, West Midlands, has sparked outrage with its 'no pay, no play' scheme, which it launched last week amid fierce criticism from parents.

The scheme arrived after the school's parent council asked parents to donate £6 to buy sports equipment for pupils to play with as part of a lunchtime fun club.

The 'Outstanding' rated school has around 450 pupils yet only 50 parents have paid the £6. That led the school to separate kids who hadn't paid the fee from those that had.

The school's headteacher Maria Bull (
Wednesbury Oak Academy)

The school's headteacher Maria Bull defended the scheme, saying the school 'didn't have' any parents who couldn't afford the £6 a year - which works out at just 15p a week.

"Schools get an awful lot of bad press for doing things that benefit the children," Bull told the Mirror. "We are asking for just £6 a year."

"We are talking about a 20 minute area outside with some equipment. We are running this as a lunchtime activity club. I wouldn't ask parents to pay for another child's after school club."

The equipment that the children are missing out on is a football, a rugby ball, a slinky, two skipping ropes and some tennis balls. Not a huge loss, you might think, but you could still say it's snide.

Kids whose parents have paid the fee are taken onto the grass to play games arranged by a member of school staff, reports the Mirror. Kids whose parents haven't donated can occasionally be invited to join in by their mates.

A petition started by parents has called for the scheme to be scrapped immediately, saying that parents, pupils and staff are 'disgusted' by the 'no pay, no play' scheme.

The petition has obtained over 860 signatures so far with many other parents and teachers showing their support for the petition.

"The playground was separated into groups of 'paid' and 'unpaid' students. This has caused outright disgust from children, parents, grandparents, staff and such like," the petition reads.

"The parents that have paid and parents that haven't are totally against the separation of the children as this can cause upset, bullying and social exclusion amongst other things.

"We therefore request the 'scheme' to be discontinued as it's just not something that any of us wish to be associated with."

Tennis balls - worth paying £6 a year? (
PA)

While the petition seems peaceful enough, Bull said some parents have resorted to threatening staff, comparing it to 'cyber bullying' of the school.

"Parents have behaved in a highly threatening manner on Facebook, telling me 'I need a good slapping'. This is not the way to behave," Bull told The Mirror.

"We have systems in place where parents can come and address their concerns. I am on the verge of calling the police."

You can see why some parents might get brassed off at funding other kids' playtime. Still, a bit harsh on the kids themselves, maybe?

Featured Image Credit: Google Street View

Topics: UK News, News, School, Parents