Essex school bans physical contact between pupils and outlaws romantic ... trends now
A secondary school has banned all physical contact between pupils and romantic relationships - even hugging and holding hands.
Chelmsford secondary school, Hylands School, said they 'do not allow' romantic relationships in a 'draconian' crackdown on physical touch.
Other strict rules include that students who are caught using mobile phones could have them locked in a safe for the rest of the day.
Parents have slammed the rules and questioned the school's explanation that it encourages children to behave 'professionally'.
The letter sent by the Chelmsford school says forms of physical contact which are not tolerated include 'any aggressive physical contact, hugging, holding hands, slapping someone, etc'
Headteacher Maggie Callaghan said most parents had been supportive of the policy (file image of children playing in a school playground)
A letter sent by assistant headteacher Miss Catherine McMillan, seen by EssexLive, says staff do not tolerate 'any physical contact' between members of the school community.
One parent at the school claimed that parents had not been told about the new policy prior to the letter, which was sent on January 9.
Instead, they heard about the new rules from their children.
The individual, who did not want to be named, said: 'I couldn't believe it. In this day and age, I agree that inappropriate touching - hitting and punching - of course has to be dealt with. But they're not teaching students how to have a healthy relationship.
'The inference is that you can't touch anyone, children won't know what is or isn't appropriate, and the
