Mossbourne Fobbing Academy bans pupil shops use on way home

Parents of September starters at Mossbourne Fobbing Academy, formerly Ortu Gable Hall School, recently received a booklet on the schools rules, which said pupils should go straight home at the end of the school day. 

Entrepreneur - Natalie runs her business from a small cabin in her front garden (Image: Natalie Shirley) Natalie Shirley, 43, who runs a small business frequented by the school's students says the policy will have a serious impact on her future earnings. 

A spokesperson for the school has said pupils are welcome to attend shops after changing out of their uniform and have full parent and carer permission to do so. 

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Natalie, who lives just five minutes away from Mossbourne Fobbing Academy, said: "I run my cake shop, Sweet Slice of Italy, from my front garden and every Friday offer a 10 per cent discount to students on their way home from school.

"Every week I have a lot of them stopping by and they're always on their best behaviour - I've never had a single issue with any of them. 

"I open at 3pm on a Friday to coincide with them leaving school and this change will really hit my business and future earnings."

Concern - Natalie fears the rule will hit her business's earnings (Image: Natalie Shirley) Natalie says that at her son's school in Westcliff, rules are in place to say that student's must behave appropriately whenever they are wearing their uniform outside of school grounds, but thinks the Mossbourne policy is extreme and unenforceable. 

"If a parent picks their child up from school and then wants to take them to a shop, will they be punished?" she asked. 

A spokesperson for Mossbourne Fobbing Academy said that the school's ultimate priority is the safety of their pupils, particularly when travelling to and from school. 

Rules - Parents of new starters have recently received the school's rules (Image: Natalie Shirley) "Our extensive experience shows that children are safest when parents and carers are aware of their whereabouts and they do not congregate in large groups without adult supervision," the spokesperson said. 

"As such, we encourage our students to travel directly home at the end of the school day. We do however fully support local businesses – our students are welcome to attend shops when they have reached home, are out of uniform and have full parent and carer permission to do so."