Parents of children at a school accuse staff of using students—reportedly as young as nine—to cover gaps in dining-room staffing. They say that pupils in Years 5 and 6 are required to carry out routine cleaning and clearing tasks.
According to the claims reported by outlets, the duties include clearing other pupils’ plates, wiping tables, and sweeping floors. The allegation is that the school’s approach functions as a form of unpaid or student labour rather than normal supervision by adults.
The report frames the dispute around whether the tasks are appropriate for the children’s age and whether they are being assigned to compensate for shortages in adult staff. The coverage focuses on the parents’ concerns about the impact on pupils and the reasons the school implements the arrangement. Other reported details beyond the description of the tasks are limited in the provided material, and the school’s response is not included here.
