Should parents be banned from attending school sports day?

Parents have been banned from attending sports day at one primary school [Photo: Getty]
Parents have been banned from attending sports day at one primary school [Photo: Getty]

A primary school has banned parents from all future sports days after what it described as “bad behaviour” by mums and dads cheering on from the sidelines.

The end of the school year is approaching, which can only mean one thing. Sports day!

While children across the country are preparing to show of their skills with an egg and spoon, some parents will have to skip seeing their little ones sack race this year and future years to come.

In a letter to parents seen by BBC Wales, the head teacher at Pentrebane school in Cardiff said angry parents could be threatening and intimidating.

Sheena Duggan added that some staff had been sworn at in front of children.

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According to BBC Wales the letter was sent the day after the school's annual sports day last week.

"It is with regret that I find myself writing this letter,” the letter read.

"Unfortunately, over the last number of years, the behaviour of adults attending sports days has worsened.

"Staff have found themselves in the firing line of angry parents who can be threatening and intimidating. They have also been sworn at.

"This is bad enough but what is worse is that it takes place in front of children.

The letter goes on to say that the happiness and wellbeing of the pupils is paramount.

"So with that in mind I have made the difficult decision that future sports days will not be open to parents,” the letter continued.

"It is very sad but I feel strongly that my staff and pupils do not come to school to be exposed to the bad behaviour of a small minority of adults."

Yahoo UK has contacted the school for comment and will update the article if we hear back.

Should parents be banned from sports day? [Photo: Getty]
Should parents be banned from sports day? [Photo: Getty]

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Parents at the school will be joined by Amanda Holden in skipping sports day this year.

Apparently the 48-year-old star has been banned from school sports day by her daughter because she gets “massively competitive”.

The ‘Britain’s Got Talent’ judge revealed on her radio show that her 13-year-old daughter, Lexi, doesn’t want her mother to support her from the sidelines.

“Lexi is a bit older and she has banned me from going to her sport's day,” said Holden.

Asked by her Heart Breakfast co-host Jamie Theakston if her competitiveness played a part in the ban, Holden loudly agreed and admitted she is “massively competitive”.

She did, however, add that younger daughter Hollie, aged seven, still likes her mum to cheer her on.

It isn’t the first time the behaviour of parents at sports day has sparked a debate.

Back in 2017 a mum has turned to the Internet to gauge the reactions of other parents about drinking alcohol at sports day.

“Have just returned from a very hot primary school sports day,” the poster wrote. “A group of parents decided to crack open a few cold cans of Pimms at about 11am. AIBU to think that this is totally out of order at a primary school sports day?”

“I mean I know it’s not cans of super brew but still I would never dream of watching my little ones in the sack race while getting sloshed in the sun!”

And parents were divided about whether it was ok to cheer on their children with a glass of fizz in hand.