School bans puddings because they make children 'tired and irritable'

Students eat their school dinner from trays and plates during lunch in the canteen
Students eat their school dinner from trays and plates during lunch in the canteen
Ben Birchall
Carl Bennett

By Carl Bennett


Published: 12/01/2022

- 14:31

Updated: 12/01/2022

- 14:44

The school in east London is using the money saved to offer pupils healthier snacks in the morning

An east London primary school has made the decision to ban stodgy puddings at lunch because they say it makes pupils tired in the afternoon.

Executive headteacher of Scott Wilkie Primary School, Keri Edge, said the children suffer from a sugar crash in the afternoon, leaving them tired and irritable.


Ms Edge said having a high sugar pudding after lunch every day is not something happens in any other walk of life.

As a result of not spending on dessert, the school has made more of an effort to offer healthy morning snacks.

"Newham has one of the highest levels of obese children in the country and we need to think more carefully about the amount of and kind of food and exercise we are offering our children”, Ms Edge said.

"We found they were tired and irritable in the afternoon because they have had the sweet pudding but then had a huge sugar crash.

"Naturally this is going to impact on their education, their capacity to learn and retain information and their general enjoyment of school.

"The money we have saved by not offering puddings has gone on a healthy snack. Every morning our children get something to help get them through until lunch."

Initial feedback from parents was sceptical, with some raising concerns about the decision. However many have since noted an improvement.

Scott Pilkie is a highly regarded school, noted for its well-performing pupils, and last month they announced they were to extend the school day by an hour to support children’s education following the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.

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