Fury as 'draconian' school bans packed lunches, offers Halal meat, gluten-free food or salad instead and insists pupils only drink water 'because hydrated brains learn better'

A school has been branded 'draconian' after it banned all packed lunches and only water, Halal meat, gluten-free food and salads. Aureus School, in Didcot, Oxfordshire, has come under fire from parents for its strict stance on its food policy. Packed lunches are banned and pupils and staff sit down to eat in the canteen together with an emphasis on eating healthily and socially.

Students and staff get to choose from eating a hot Halal meat meal, hot gluten-free vegetarian meal, a jacket potato, a salad, a pasta pot or a baguette.

The school insists that only water may be drunk on site because 'hydrated brains learn better' and that Halal meat 'celebrates the diversity of our country's culture'.

But some parents hit out at the food policy and said the rules were 'draconian'.

A father, who wished to remain anonymous, said: 'We are thinking of taking her out of the school - it's getting silly and more like a dictatorship. Their views are quite extreme.

'It's about choice. It's supposed to be an inclusive school but they are only catering for one particular religion.'

He said the school's insinuation that pupils would not otherwise get a sit-down meal at home, or would only eat unhealthy food, was 'absolutely insulting'.

The father added that he had tried to get the policies changed since September but had been unsuccessful.

Executive headteacher Hannah Wilson said: 'Food education closes the poverty gap and delicious, nutritious should be a universal entitlement.

'With all of the headlines about food banks and obesity, we are preparing our students for healthy lifestyles in the future.'



Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-5794465/Fury-draconian-school-bans-packed-lunches.html#ixzz5HFW3kP3P
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Should concentrate on teaching, sounds like power has gone to his head !

Tommy Monk wrote:

'Aureus School, in Didcot, Oxfordshire'...


I think I've posted about this school before...!


And if this overpaid, agenda following, 'common purpose' twat 'Executive headteacher Hannah Wilson' was really only interested in providing healthy eating, then all food offered would be ORGANIC for a start... and red meat of any kind would rarely be offered at all... plus there would be more choices containing oily fish/nuts/seeds/beneficial herbs/vegetables/fruit... and a lonesome baked potato, or 'pasta pot' (of ambiguous identity/nutritional value), or a bagette (of highly questionable quality and undefined filling/s) would definitely not be on offer!!!

Had to answer this.

I agree on all your points except Organic. As there little to no evidence to suggest that would be better placed to offer to children for a start as you say.

There is zero evidence, that eating organic food, makes a difference to your health.