This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/england/cambridgeshire/6629655.stm
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| No playground for 'super school' | No playground for 'super school' |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| The most expensive state school in the UK will not have an outdoor space for students when it opens in September. | The most expensive state school in the UK will not have an outdoor space for students when it opens in September. |
| Alan McMurdo, head of Peterborough's £46.4m Thomas Deacon Academy, said: "I think what the public want is maximum learning." | |
| But Tim Gill, who led an official inquiry into children's play, said the idea "borders on inhuman". | But Tim Gill, who led an official inquiry into children's play, said the idea "borders on inhuman". |
| The 2,200-pupil "super school", part of the government's city academy scheme, will replace three separate schools. | The 2,200-pupil "super school", part of the government's city academy scheme, will replace three separate schools. |
| 'Maximum learning' | 'Maximum learning' |
| Mr McMurdo said the main aim of not having a playground at the school was to help pupils' learning. | Mr McMurdo said the main aim of not having a playground at the school was to help pupils' learning. |
| Children need to have some time where they take responsibility Tim GillPlay expert | Children need to have some time where they take responsibility Tim GillPlay expert |
| He told BBC News: "This is a massive investment of public money and I think what the public want is maximum learning. | He told BBC News: "This is a massive investment of public money and I think what the public want is maximum learning. |
| "They recognise that youngsters can play in their own time, play in their local communities. | "They recognise that youngsters can play in their own time, play in their local communities. |
| "What I want from my teachers is maximum teaching and I want maximum learning from the youngsters." | "What I want from my teachers is maximum teaching and I want maximum learning from the youngsters." |
| 'Extremely damaging' | 'Extremely damaging' |
| However, independent play expert Tim Gill said the concept sounded "crazy". | However, independent play expert Tim Gill said the concept sounded "crazy". |
| "It borders on inhuman," he said. | "It borders on inhuman," he said. |
| HAVE YOUR SAY Let children be children. Let them grow themselves. Wayne Smith, Lincoln Send us your comments | HAVE YOUR SAY Let children be children. Let them grow themselves. Wayne Smith, Lincoln Send us your comments |
| He added: "It's symptomatic of a way of thinking about children that we have to control and programme and manage every aspect of their lives. | He added: "It's symptomatic of a way of thinking about children that we have to control and programme and manage every aspect of their lives. |
| "That seems to me to be extremely damaging in the long-term because children need to have some time where they take responsibility and they make everyday decisions about what they're doing." | "That seems to me to be extremely damaging in the long-term because children need to have some time where they take responsibility and they make everyday decisions about what they're doing." |
| The academy is being built in Queens Gardens, Peterborough, as a replacement for John Mansfield School, Deacon's School and Hereward Community College. | The academy is being built in Queens Gardens, Peterborough, as a replacement for John Mansfield School, Deacon's School and Hereward Community College. |
| Construction work on the Norman Foster-designed building on the eastern side of the city started in July 2005. | Construction work on the Norman Foster-designed building on the eastern side of the city started in July 2005. |
| The city academy programme aims to revitalise secondary schooling in areas where local schools could benefit from re-organisation. | The city academy programme aims to revitalise secondary schooling in areas where local schools could benefit from re-organisation. |