School sports day ban for father with no criminal records check
A school turned a father away from his son's first sports day after banning parents who have not been checked by police from mixing with pupils.
The taxi driver had gone to watch his son, a seven year old pupil, compete in sprints and egg-and-spoon races.
But teachers refused to let him spectate because they did not believe he had undergone checks by the Criminal Records Bureau.
Rather than argue, the 'mortified' father left quietly so he would not embarrass his son as he took part in the games at the 1,200-pupil De Lisle Catholic Science school in Loughborough, Leicestershire.
The school's policy says that any parent who has not passed the checks is banned from attending events in which pupils take part. The rules are aimed at shielding children from paedophiles.
But critics say they have gone far beyond their original remit. For example, parents picking up groups of children from school or hosting foreign exchange pupils have to undergo checks or face fines.
Yesterday the father said that he regularly underwent Criminal Records Bureau checks for his job as a taxi driver.
The father, who did not want to be named to protect his son's identity, told a Talksport radio programme: 'I couldn't believe it when they told me I wasn't allowed in because I didn't have the relevant CRB checks.
'I'd called the school that morning to ask if it would be OK if I came along and they said it would be no problem. But when I got to the school the assistant head teacher said that as I hadn't had a CRB check then I couldn't watch.
'Rather than kick up a fuss and embarrass my son I just turned around and walked away. I was fuming. She made me feel like it was wrong to want to watch my son take part in his first sports day.
'I'm a taxi driver and I have to have regular CRB checks as part of my licence. I've never had any trouble.
'What is the world coming to when parents can't watch their own kids take part in what is a big day in their young lives? I'm all for protecting kids, but surely there has to be a place for common sense.'
The school said in a statement: 'We fully appreciate that one parent was upset by our policy regarding the attendance of parents at sports days.
'As standard procedure, all our policies are subject to regular review and are changed to meet the needs of our students.
'We regret that on this occasion one parent was upset and we look to review our policy appropriately.'
A spokesman for Leicestershire County Council told Talksport: 'Parents should have access to school activities.
'We certainly do not issue any guidance to say parents should have a CRB check to attend school sports days.
'The day-to-day running of the school is a matter for the school and its governors, but we are contacting the school to discuss their policy with them.'
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Again, a stupid idiotic rule that harms the masses because of the majority. This man had no intentions of causing harm to other people, he just wanted to watch his child. What ever happened to innocent until proven guilty?
......Your thoughts?
