No playing outside at all?

mani · 18-09-2007, 17:04

there's a thread here that questions kids playin outside in the streets etc

what do people make of this? a school with no playground!

Quote:

A new school in Peterborough, in the south east of England, has been built with loads of new equipment inside, but nowhere for pupils to hang out outside.
The Thomas Deacon Academy also has an unusual approach to breaks. Apart from 30 minutes for lunch, there are none!
Some parents aren't happy about that, but staff say having no play time will help to stop children being bullied.

CBBC Newsround | UK | No playground at kids' new school

flashy · 18-09-2007, 17:11

what a load of rubbish, my niece gets bullied in the dinner que, before school and after,so that wont make any difference.. how the hell are they expecting children to interact with each other when they are in one set environment and arent allowed to mingle with others? and what happened to giving kids more exercise?

lancsdave · 18-09-2007, 17:20

Interesting that they have only asked the 11 yr olds fresh from junior school about the playground. Ask the older pupils and I suspect they don't really care, playing out at break time is not cool.

The other side of the coin is how strict the school is run, how many times have people moaned on here that there is no discipline in school anymore ?

Who'd be a headmaster these days ?

lancsdave · 18-09-2007, 17:24

2,200 pupils

No wonder they haven't got room for a playground

MargaretR · 18-09-2007, 17:25

I never enjoyed being chucked out at playtimes - we haven't the climate for it. As for 'fresh air' - Peterborough may well have fresher air inside than out.

WillowTheWhisp · 18-09-2007, 17:39

If they have no outdoor sports facilities either I think that's a mistake. They need to have some time outdoors.

Playing out is something kids do grow out of once they get to secondary school but that doesn't mean they shouldn't have breaks. They still need free time to socialise and interact with each other. How else do they learn to get on with others? There will be bullies with or without a playground and they need to be tackled on a one to one basis.

I think just having one half hour break for lunch is a bit mean. I'm actually surprised they have time to get their meal and eat it in that time. Do they not have to queue up for it?

mani · 18-09-2007, 17:41

BUT THE school looked totally wow!!

it really was like a HQ of a financial company rather than a school

so where do they play football?? or do they have school fields some distance away?

WillowTheWhisp · 18-09-2007, 17:45

Yes that pic with the library and staircase looks impressive although I'm not sure how safe an open plan staircase like that is with hundreds of pupils pushing past each other to get to classes. It looks like an accident waiting to happen.

West Ender · 18-09-2007, 19:07

Children need a break morning and afternoon, not just at lunchtime, and they should have time to relax after lunch. Also whether or not they go outside should be up to them but, at least, the opportunity should be there. Some children, even teenagers, like to be outdoors, particularly when the weather is good, and sunshine and fresh air (Peterborough is quite a clean place too) is good for everyone.

There is so much debate about kids sitting around instead of getting a bit of healthy exercise and yet here they are being actively encouraged to be sedentary. It's crazy.

lancsdave · 18-09-2007, 19:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by WillowTheWhisp

If they have no outdoor sports facilities either I think that's a mistake.

They have sports fields at the side

lancsdave · 18-09-2007, 19:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by West Ender

(Peterborough is quite a clean place too)

Shame it's such a crap place to live

WillowTheWhisp · 18-09-2007, 19:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by lancsdave

They have sports fields at the side

With all that lovely space around the building what a shame there isn't somewhere for the kids to get fresh air.

SPUGGIE J · 18-09-2007, 19:57

What a weird looking building.

Looks like the sort of building a government department on the move would build. All that greenery and no room to roam on a break very odd very odd indeed.

lancsdave · 18-09-2007, 20:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by SPUGGIE J

What a weird looking building.

Looks like the sort of building a government department on the move would build. All that greenery and no room to roam on a break very odd very odd indeed.

Curves seem to be in at the moment.

This is a new one they are building in Nelson

SPUGGIE J · 18-09-2007, 20:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by lancsdave

Curves seem to be in at the moment.

This is a new one they are building in Nelson

What is it supposed to make feel homely? Having been at a block building school this has no appeal. Its ok having fancy buildings but what about areas to unwind and for them to chill out? It dosnt seem right to me.