New headteacher wants pupils to 'Superwalk'

[RhinestoneCowgirl]

New head at our primary has decreed that children should walk along corridors with hands clasped behind their backs at all times.

Possibly he's striving for Outstanding Ofsted, but it sounds bonkers to me (and I'm usually happy to back the school in most things).

[Strix]

OP, is your primary either SCD or SGTM? If so, your old Headteacher is now our new headteacher. It is so much worse than hands behind the back.

If I am correct in thinking your old headteacher is our new headteacher, then there is a following of parents (mostly SEN parents) who would like to hear from you and other parents at your school. Feel free to type here or PM me.

[SteamTrainsRealAleandOpenFires]

OP Has the Head replied yet. ?

[LaurieMarlow]

Ffs, what nonsense

[RhinestoneCowgirl]

Well you should know Eton17

[Eton2017]

I won't link in case it is indeed the same school and the OP would prefer not, but if you Google superwalk primary school and look down a few links to one about a school that seems, hmm, buoyant, there's a head introducing this in terms similar to what's described. Bonkers.

As for "aping private schools"... Haven't seen this practice in any myself and can confirm superwalking is not required at Eton!

[AlexanderHamilton]

Dd would like this as she has an asd & is particularly hyper sensitive if her back or shoulders are touched. There have been several instances of her back being "accidentally" pushed which have led to her not being able to cope with being in class the rest of the day. One girl in particular seems to 'accidentally' touch/push Dd in the back a lot.

[shushpenfold]

NinaH

[MollyHuaCha]

For children at schools where this walk is encouraged, I’m assuming there are no stairs to negotiate?

At a school where I have worked, there have been three steps every now and then in the corridors (school built on slope). We insisted that children held the handrail when going up or down.

[HonestTeacher]

The children at my current school do this. When I joined the school I thought it was ridiculous and laughed about it with my other teacher friends. I can now see the benefits though.

Transition times are when the most disruption/silliness occurs. Hands behind back when walking means no poking other children, poking displays or fiddling with things they shouldn't be! We tell the children how fabulous and presentable they look when walking and they are so eager to please there are no behaviour issues when transitioning at this school.

I have many SEN children in my class and children with mobility issues. They are happy enough walking with their hands behind their backs, obveously they wouldn't be forcer to it they physically couldn't! And as for falling over, your instinct is to put your hands out, they still do this! Had no children breaking their nose or cracking their head open because they were walking with their hands behind their back!

[YouCantArgueWithStupid]

This is hilarious! I used to work in prisons and we didn’t make the inmates walk like this!

[ForalltheSaints]

Not run and hands by their sides would be reasonable to me, but behind backs seems strange.

[RhinestoneCowgirl]

I have emailed the head. And by coincidence, this photo came up in a local news story today...

[Ttbb]

This is in imitation of the way well educated young men used to walk. Back in the day. Rather silly nowt

[OutwiththeOutCrowd]

You’re going to have to get an Ofsted inspector in to creep up behind the HT while he’s doing his role model Superwalk down the corridor, put a pair of these on him and escort him off the premises.

It’s the only sensible way forward!

That, or stick the DCs library books on their heads and call it extracurricular deportment classes.

[SteamTrainsRealAleandOpenFires]

But s/he can't stop the parents humming.......

Then the kids will be excluded for the parents' seditious actions for "bringing the school's character into disrepute" (or something like that)

[Ceto]

Pickley, the point is that constantly having your hands behind your back tends to make you lean forwards slightly and is liable to overbalance you, particularly if you have co-ordination problems. There's a reason why our arms are at the sides.

[Ceto]

Has the Chair said publicly that he was told the Superwalk is optional? If so, can he be persuaded to tell the Head to announce that formally?

[Pickleypickles]

I dont understand why walking with your hands behind your back makes you smash your face ? If they are in pockets then yes you cant get them out to stop you smashing your face but just behind your back? Surely thats the same as having them anywhere else when you walk and fall over.

It is a stupid rule though yes.

[RhinestoneCowgirl]

Hampton DD would so suit a cane! She is a fairly eccentric child...

[RhinestoneCowgirl]

That's what my mum said TossDaily

I've spoken to a friend who is a governor at the school. Apparently the Chair of governors has a meeting on Friday with the head, and 'Superwalk' is one of the items on the agenda. Although Chair also said that he was told that the sillysuperwalk was optional.

I'm going to send a measured email to the head, I think he has already had a few...

[TossDaily]

They must all look like little Prince Philips.

[DancingLedge]

Oh SteamTrains that is so the reaction it deserves. Or just humming the tune quietly. But with a Head who wants the prison walk, this of course will probably be an excludable offence.

But s/he can't stop the parents humming.......

[hamptonhangingpork]

Don't the kids at Eton get to walk along with canes? They seem pretty well-behaved.

If the head is striving for excellence, demand your daughter be issued a cane so she can go tapping it along the corridor like an aristocrat.

Top hat and tails should be optional. Because that might be a little daft.

[SteamTrainsRealAleandOpenFires]

OP I wonder if its too late to teach the children to sing "Another brick in the wall", to be sung while doing the "super walk"?.