My kid’s entire school is banned from McDonald’s but only one is to blame – it’s not fair on those who are well-behaved
FUMING parents say one child has spoiled it for all of them after an entire school was banned from McDonald’s.
All 1,086 students at Burgess Hill Academy have been ordered to stay out of the fast food restaurant before, during and after school hours while wearing school uniform by Head Teacher Simon Davies.
Pupils of the co-educational secondary school in Burgess Hill, West Sussex, were banned after customers and staff complained of abuse.
McDonald’s staff said their pleas for better behaviour fell on deaf ears.
After police had to be called, the entire school was banned.
One child’s unruly behaviour is believed to be responsible for the ban.
Well-behaved children are being unfairly punished by banning the whole school over the actions of one child, parents said.
A mum who has a child at the school said most parents are frustrated the actions of one child has brought national attention on well-behaved children.
“I think the problem is the more coverage it gets the more embarrassing it is for parents whose children attend the school who are good kids – which is the majority.
“It’s massively affecting the reputation of the school and in turn the pupils, which is unfair.”
A spokesman from the University of Brighton Academies Trust, which runs the academy, said while the trust said it supports the ban, just one student was responsible rather than a group of pupils.
“It is essential to emphasise that the actions leading to this decision were the result of a single individual’s actions and do not reflect the values and standards upheld by our academy and students,” said the trust spokesman.
“The decision to implement this ban was jointly made by McDonald’s, Sussex Police, and The Burgess Hill Academy.
“We fully support this measure and understand that the timeframe for lifting the ban will be determined by McDonald’s.”
Burgess Hill Academy said it is cracking down on antisocial behaviour.
“The Burgess Hill Academy does not condone this behaviour, irrespective of whether it occurred before, during, or after school hours,” the school said.
“We extend our sincere apologies to McDonald’s for any inconvenience caused.”
Parents are also fuming with the tearaway teenagers, with one person saying via social media: “Last week I was at McDonald’s it was very unpleasant.
“All the school kids were shouting and pushing, throwing salt and sugar in each other’s hair.
“Then they got a yellow cone and stuffed it in the toilet. They were running around in circles.
“The staff members were just laughing at this point. I personally decided I am not going back, it’s crazy.”
While another said: “Children nowadays have no respect for adults or even each other and they have no discipline either.”
Sussex Police confirmed they are working with the community to respond to reports of antisocial behaviour involving youths across Burgess Hill.