Christine Myers, headteacher of the Rossendale school, said she hoped parents would support their decision
Parents have been banned from watching their children’s sports day after the school’s principal said it was unsafe and that hey tend to moan about the weather.
Helmshore Primary School, in Lancashire, sent parents a text message ahead of the event saying family would not be allowed to attend ‘due to issues of safeguarding’.
They said the decision had ‘not been taken lightly’ and was a ‘necessary step for the safety of our children’.
Christine Myers, headteacher of the Rossendale school, said she hoped parents would support their decision.
In a statement, she said: ‘As we are quite a large school, we are concerned about the potential high numbers of parents and maybe other family members present on the school playing field.
‘Getting everyone to sign in could be an onerous task but would be necessary for us to be confident of being able to identify people. The close proximity of the public paths which cross our school playing field also make it extremely difficult to ensure the safety of our children at an outdoor event.
She added: ‘Some parents are not able to attend anyway because of other commitments, which is disappointing for some children seeing their friends with family present. It also leads to parents feeling upset if they can’t attend, due to personal circumstances.
‘Also, parents have been annoyed in the past when we have had to make a decision to change or cancel an event because of factors out of our control, including the weather.’
One parent, who wished not to be named, criticised the decision as ‘crazy’, saying: ‘Schools everywhere have always managed to invite parents to sports days.
Helmshore Primary School, in Lancashire, sent parents a text message ahead of the event saying family would not be allowed to attend ‘due to issues of safeguarding’
One parent, who wished not to be named, criticised the decision as ‘crazy’, saying: ‘Schools everywhere have always managed to invite parents to sports days.’ Pictured: The school
‘It’s not like parents are banned from school. We come to all sorts of events during the year – often raising money for the school.
‘Maybe we’ll have to apply for visas for go to the Nativity at Christmas in the future.
‘Sports days should be a happy memory for families.
‘Instead, maybe we should all gather behind the metal fence on the playing field and shout support from a few hundred metres away. It’s crazy.’