No playground for 'super school'

[Dan2nd]

Teachers hope the move will help students learn
The most expensive state school in the UK will not have an outdoor space for students when it opens in September.
Alan McMurdo, head of Peterborough's £46.4m Thomas Deacon Academy, said: "I think what the public want is maximum learning."

But Tim Gill, who led an official inquiry into children's play, said the idea "borders on inhuman".

The 2,200-pupil "super school", part of the government's city academy scheme, will replace three separate schools.

'Maximum learning'

Mr McMurdo said the main aim of not having a playground at the school was to help pupils' learning.



He told BBC News: "This is a massive investment of public money and I think what the public want is maximum learning.

"They recognise that youngsters can play in their own time, play in their local communities.

"What I want from my teachers is maximum teaching and I want maximum learning from the youngsters."

'Extremely damaging'

However, independent play expert Tim Gill said the concept sounded "crazy".

"It borders on inhuman," he said.


He added: "It's symptomatic of a way of thinking about children that we have to control and programme and manage every aspect of their lives.

"That seems to me to be extremely damaging in the long-term because children need to have some time where they take responsibility and they make everyday decisions about what they're doing."

The academy is being built in Queens Gardens, Peterborough, as a replacement for John Mansfield School, Deacon's School and Hereward Community College.

Construction work on the Norman Foster-designed building on the eastern side of the city started in July 2005.

The city academy programme aims to revitalise secondary schooling in areas where local schools could benefit from re-organisation.

I'd so hate to go to a school like this.. how boring

[Acid]

OH NO I LIKE A NICE PLAYGROUND IS NICE FOR PLAYING INSIDE

[GommeInc]

It won't work. They should use Recess: The Movie as an example.

[Axel]

Eww it's near me. Tis gonna be crap.

[Immenseman]

That school is going to be f-u-n.

[Mentor]

That long without a break to wake up will result in half the schools population haveing curled up and goon to sleep by the afternoon "/ That or so board they just mess around as much as can be got away with, and probably somewhat more just to get out of the class, resulting in alot less being learnt in the long run... way to maximise learning.

[Axel]

I thought their was at least a break, just not a playground. If there's not breaktime, that'll totally suck.

[DiscoPat]

That will be fun, the reason I'm saying this is because think about it, the kids will get bored and do pranks n stuff all the time and there reasons will be good as they dont get a break n stuff..?

[:Liam]

Thats Crap! I go to that school!! I asked the head teachers PA about this and she said "the head teacher doesnt want to comment on this yet"! Its well suckish!, I dont wanna leave the school either as its the only place I can do the International Bacoloriate near me SUCKISH! :

[VPSwow]

No playground. well i guess this school will start with 2,200 pupils and after a year only have 200 pupils.