More children to arrive at school with ‘dirty uniforms and unclean hair’ this term, poll says
More children are likely to arrive at school this term with unclean clothes and unbrushed teeth, a poll of teachers has suggested.
Nearly three in four (72%) school staff believe there has been an increase in “hygiene poverty” issues in their school in the last year.
Dirty uniforms and PE kits, unwashed hair and unclean teeth were the most cited indicators of hygiene poverty by the school staff who were questioned in June.
A separate survey found that of the 500 staff who had said they were aware of pupils experiencing hygiene poverty, 71% expect the levels to have increased by the start of the new school term in September.
Some even reported personally washing uniforms and PE kits for children at home, and handing out laundry detergent for families in need.
Pupils isolated by others
Charity The Hygiene Bank, and cleaning brand smol, defines hygiene poverty as those who are “caught between being able to heat their home, pay their bills, buy food or keep clean”.
Sarah Smith, executive headteacher of St Cuthbert’s Catholic Academy, a primary school in Blackpool, said hygiene poverty will have an effect on the mental and overall wellbeing of the children, which in turn will negatively impact their education.
The survey, which was conducted by market research platform Attest, suggested that 72% of school staff said they had seen pupils affected by hygiene poverty experience low self-esteem.
Pupils use the laundry facilities at St Cuthbert’s Catholic Academy in Blackpool
Meanwhile, 53% said these pupils were isolated or “left out” by other pupils in class, and 50% said they had seen a negative impact on mental health.
More than a quarter (26%) said they had seen pupils stay off school as a result of hygiene poverty.
The Suds in Schools initiative – run by smol, in collaboration with The Hygiene Bank – is hoping to expand its initiative which provides mini laundrettes to schools, so more families in need are provided with clean clothes.
It wants to raise £25,000 to establish an additional 25 laundrettes in UK schools.
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Headteacher Sarah Smith visits the laundry facilities
“We believe that everyone should have access to clean clothes, in order to live their life to the fullest, and our research shows just how much this can impact young people at a crucial stage in their academic and social lives,” Lucy Wishart, of smol, said.
Julie McCulloch, director of policy at the Association of School and College Leaders called on the government to do more to tackle the level of child poverty in the UK.
She said the problem is “utterly unacceptable” and has worsened due to the COVID pandemic and cost of living crisis.
Education Secretary Gillian Keegan will appear on the Politics Hub with Sophy Ridge starting tonight at 7pm on Sky News.
UK
MasterChef’s Gregg Wallace steps down as Kirsty Wark among 13 who claim he made inappropriate sexual jokes
MasterChef host Gregg Wallace has stepped down over allegations he made a series of inappropriate sexual comments on a range of programmes over 17 years.
Broadcaster Kirsty Wark is among 13 people who have made claims, with Wallace being investigated by MasterChef’s production company Banijay UK.
In an interview with the BBC, the Newsnight presenter, who was a celebrity contestant on MasterChef in 2011, claimed Wallace used “sexualised language”.
“There were two occasions in particular where he used sexualised language in front of a number of people and it wasn’t as if it was anyone engaged with this,” Wark said.
“It was completely one-way traffic. I think people were uncomfortable and something that I really didn’t expect to happen.”
Sky News has contacted Wallace’s representative for comment.
Kirsty Wark. File pic: PA
‘Fully cooperating’
Banijay UK said the complaints were made to the BBC this week by “individuals in relation to historical allegations of misconduct while working with Gregg Wallace on one of our shows”.
The company said the 60-year-old, who has been a co-presenter and judge of the popular cooking show since 2005, was “committed to fully cooperating throughout the process”.
“Whilst these complainants have not raised the allegations directly with our show producers or parent company Banijay UK, we feel that it is appropriate to conduct an immediate, external review to fully and impartially investigate,” the company said.
“While this review is under way, Gregg Wallace will be stepping away from his role on MasterChef and is committed to fully co-operating throughout the process.
“Banijay UK’s duty of care to staff is always a priority and our expectations regarding behaviour are made clear to both cast and crew on all productions, with multiple ways of raising concerns, including anonymously, clearly promoted on set.
“Whilst these are historical allegations, incidences brought to our attention where these expectations are not met, are thoroughly investigated and addressed appropriately.”
A BBC spokesman said: “We take any issues that are raised with us seriously and we have robust processes in place to deal with them.
“We are always clear that any behaviour which falls below the standards expected by the BBC will not be tolerated.
“Where an individual is contracted directly by an external production company we share any complaints or concerns with that company and we will always support them when addressing them.”
Previous investigation
Last month, Wallace responded to reports that a previous BBC review had found he could continue working at the corporation following reports of an alleged incident in 2018 when he appeared on Impossible Celebrities.
Wallace said those claims had been investigated “promptly” at the time and said he had not said “anything sexual” while appearing on the game show more than half a decade ago.
In an Instagram post following an article in The Sun newspaper, he wrote: “The story that’s hitting the newspapers was investigated promptly when it happened six years ago by the BBC.
“And the outcome of that was that I hadn’t said anything sexual. I’ll need to repeat this again. I didn’t say anything sexual.”
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Alongside MasterChef, Wallace presented Inside The Factory for BBC Two from 2015.
Wallace and Anne-Marie Sterpini in 2014. Pic: PA
Wallace has featured on various BBC shows over the years, including Saturday Kitchen, Eat Well For Less, Supermarket Secrets, Celebrity MasterChef and MasterChef: The Professionals, as well as being a Strictly Come Dancing contestant in 2014.
He was made an MBE for services to food and charity last year.
Recorded episodes of MasterChef: The Professionals featuring Wallace will be transmitted as planned, the PA news agency understands.
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