London primary school sparks row after forcing pupils to walk with hands behind their backs

A London primary school has been accused of treating pupils "like prisoners" by demanding they walk with their hands behind their backs at all times.

Furious parents criticised St George the Martyr Primary School for introducing the strict new rule which it has dubbed the "university walk".

Under the policy at the school in Bloomsbury, pupils across all years – from ages five to 11 – are reportedly required to keep their hands clasped behind their backs while walking around the school, except in the playground at playtime.

New executive headteacher Angela Abrahams says the measure inspires pupils to “be the best they can be” and helps to improve their safety.

But parents told the Standard that comparisons have been drawn with prisoners moving around jails.

One father, who has a child at the Church of England state school and wished to remain anonymous, said nine out of 10 parents at the school were opposed to the rule.

The 34-year-old said: “The whole principle of getting kids to walk in single file with hands behind their backs is an antiquated and disciplinarian approach to school life.

“I have heard an explanation from the school that it allows the children to walk with their chests puffed out with pride, but in practice when you see them shuffling along, the picture you get is something quite different.

“There’s a lot of concern about the policy.”