School bans hugs

Sir Michael Wilshaw, principal of Mossbourne Academy in Hackney, has imposed the ban at the 900-pupil school with immediate effect.

He acted amid fears that hugging could encourage inappropriate behaviour between boys and girls.

But the shock new rule has been blasted by the Hackney branch of the National Union of Teachers.

The union branded the ban "the silliest thing it had heard in a long time".

Mark Lushington, a spokesman for Hackney Teachers' Association, said the order was over-cautious and would cause problems for staff policing it.

He said: "We just can't understand what lies behind this action. Sometimes it is appropriate to hug or touch people and you can't legislate for this.

"The ban will see any pupils who engage in hugging with a member of either the same or opposite sex punished with detentions."

Mossbourne was Hackney's first academy when it opened in 2004 on the site of failing Hackney Downs school.

It now has three year groups of children aged from 11 to 14.