STUDENTS have been told they are no longer “allowed to touch each other” at Southend school, after a change to procedures.

Southchurch High School, in Southchurch Boulevard, sent a letter home to parents on January 9, informing them of the changes to the school procedures.

Within this it included an update regarding the conduct expected by pupils at the school, which stated pupils can no longer touch each other.

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The letter read: “Students are not allowed to touch each other whilst on site.

“The only exceptions will be in Performing Arts, sporting activities and PE lessons, when this is required.

“This will help create a calm and orderly atmosphere and ensure that there is no confusion about play fighting or anything more serious.

“I would like to thank you once again for your support.”

This comes months after Southchurch High School banned students from using the toilets during lessons to avoid “disruption”.

As well as preventing students from not touching one another, the school also added rules on mobile phones, and congestion in corridors.

The letter added: “Student numbers have expanded rapidly over the last few years.

“In order to avoid congestion and jostling in corridors, we have introduced a one-way system in order to avoid overcrowding in corridors and to ensure safe transitions between lessons.

“Mobile phones must not be used or seen, between the hours of 8:30am to 3pm, or in intervention sessions, or detentions.

“If they are seen they will be confiscated and sent to the front office, where students can collect them at 3pm.”

This announcement follows, the Chelmsford secondary school, Hylands, also introducing a new rule which ban pupils from hugging and holding hands. 

Southchurch High School has been contacted by the Echo for further comment.