Head rolls out lunchtime lock-in for Acland Burghley pupils - Health chiefs back plan to clamp down on takeaways

Published: 24 March 2011
by TOM FOOT

THE new headteacher of a Camden secondary school is attempting to outflank takeaways owners targeting her pupils with cheap fast fast-food by keeping them on school grounds during lunchtimes.

Jo Armitage told the New Journal she believes the lock-down at Acland Burghley in Tufnell Park could improve health, attendance and behaviour.

The move has already won praise from health chiefs at neighbouring Islington Council.

Ms Armitage said: “Acland Burghley has been gradually reducing the number of students able to leave the site over the last few years. This year the change affected Year 10 students, who in the past had been able to go out at lunchtime. 

“Students tend to go to local fast-food outlets and are eating food that is not necessarily good for them, and may in fact make them less able to concentrate in the afternoon. 

“There are few places for them to go – they can’t really reach the Heath and they inevitably congregate on pavements, outside residential buildings and around shops. It’s not very helpful to local people.” 

The school has transformed its assembly hall into a special lunch zone with table tennis facilities for Year 10 students. 

Ms Armitage said: “Some of our students would argue that I’m not prepared to trust them. This is not the case at all. We want to put the best circumstances in place for them to ensure their success at Acland Burghley.”

A recent report to Islington Council’s health scrutiny committee said: “Acland Burghley is changing policy so that students would no longer be allowed out at lunchtime.” It went on: “More pressure should be put on schools to follow a similar policy.”

Camden and Islington councils have a joint contract with Cater Link to provide school meals.  The company has individual contracts with schools but from next year will work with more than 100 schools, delivering 17,000 “locally-sourced and freshly-prepared” meals a day with “a healthy, nutritious and balanced diet”.

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