School forced to apologise after running “bikini body classes” for female students
The Ripley Academy rushes to apologise after the controversial classes were run by supply teacher without head's permission
A SCHOOL has provoked outrage after offering “bikini body” fitness classes to female pupils.
The Ripley Academy in Derbyshire was forced to apologise after the “sexualising” lessons drew the ire of horrified parents.
Mum-of-two Sarah Reeves wrote a letter to the headteacher of the school voicing her concerns.
She said: "I'm all for kids enjoying and getting into fitness but enough of the sexualisation."
The teaching assistant, who also has a seven-year-old boy, said: "The general thoughts among us all was that it was appalling. We agreed we ought to let our feelings be know.
"It is something that I feel very strongly about. As a mum of a young daughter it is an area that scares me.
"It seems the world is one that is over sexualised, with celebrities, models and magazines all giving the image that girls should be skinny and wear little clothing - should they get this message from school too.
"My daughter is slim and very fit, she plays football. But she is also very young.. I don't want her going to bikini body classes - it sounds like it is something for women, not young girls.
"It's also rather worrying that all this seemed to happen without the head knowing about it. Shouldn't the head be overseeing all extra-curricular activities?”
Ripley Academy teaches pupils aged 11-18.
The school said the after-school classes were being run by a supply teacher without the permission of head Cary Ayres.
A spokesperson said: “As soon as we were made aware of these after-school classes they were cancelled as they did not reflect the values of the academy.
"We would like to sincerely apologise for any offence caused. They were organised by a supply teacher, who is covering a member of staff on maternity leave, without permission from the principal and this issue will be dealt with internally.
"At The Ripley Academy we do run a variety of extra-curricular activities aimed at promoting a healthy lifestyle amongst all of our students and we would never condone any class, or after-school activity, that may put pressure on any young person in terms of their own body image."
One parent, who did not want to be named, said: "Isn't it bad enough to have impressionable girls to already be worrying about the state of their bodies? I am all for healthy lifestyle but this is sexualising the fitness class.
"Surely this is not what the government had in mind for academy schools?"
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