TOXIC CLASSROOMS
IN BRIEF
Gulf expansion
The high chemical levels in classroom fuel fears of insulation, electronics and fabric coating, that were English private schools are
HEADS UP
health risks to children, reports the Times significantly higher than samples taken from offices “Children are expanding into the Gulf,
Educational Supplement (TES). and homes.
more likely than
reports the FT, answering to
a growing number of expats
Over the last 20 years, classrooms have become Levels of the chemical TBBP-A, used in making
adults to be and Middle Eastern families
equipped with more and more high-tech gadgets, electronic equipment flame retardant, were similar to
computers and whiteboards. Scientists believe that the levels in dust from homes, but higher than
exposed to
who want an English private
school education.
this has caused a surge in levels of chemicals that samples from cars and offices.
persistent
Repton, in Dubai, will be
are collected in classroom dust. Researchers from
the University of Birmingham have recently
Presenting their findings at the Dioxin Conference organic
joined by an Oundle offshoot.
undertaken studies into the levels and effects of
recently, Emma Goosey, one of the report’s
pollutants by
Wellington College and
Brighton College are in
these chemicals which are “organic pollutants” and
co-authors said: “We already know that children are
consuming dust
advanced talks for sister
do not degrade in the environment.
more likely than adults to be exposed to persistent
organic pollutants by consuming dust. We also
and are more
schools in Bahrain and Abu
Dhabi respectively. The appeal
know that they are more susceptible to the effects
High-tech gadgets, computers and of such chemicals.”
susceptible to
of these schools appears to
whiteboards are thought to have
the effects of
be internationally recognised
Her colleague and co-author, Dr Stuart Harrad called
qualifications, fluency in
caused a surge in levels of chemicals
for more studies to be done on the levels and effects
such chemicals”
English and the “tradition and
of these pollutants and the health implications of
Englishness” of these the
centuries-old institutions.
Samples of dust taken from classrooms in nursery their findings: “Our initial work suggests that exposure
and primary schools in the West Midlands contained in classrooms is within safe levels for some chemicals,
Some schools are however
high concentrations of four pollutants which are but may not be for other widely used chemicals, and
wary of looking abroad for risk
thought to build up in human tissue. more work is needed to assess how exposure from
of “damaging their brand”.
various sources accumulates - particularly as these
(See our Middle East feature
These chemical pollutants, when found in significant
chemicals remain within the body.”
on page 28).
quantities, are known to have potential effects on
hormone systems, the immune system and key Nursery cuts
body functions.
childhood “wheeze”
The Daily Mail highlighted the findings of the Spending time with other
research. For example, the dust contained levels of Useful links:
youngsters at nursery from
the chemical HBCD, commonly used in wall The report can be found at: www.gees.bham.ac.uk
the age of six to 12 months
“can cut the chance of
developing asthma by 70%”,
reports the Daily Telegraph.
The NHS however highlights
BOARDING OPPORTUNITIES
that although these findings
offer “some evidence that
attendance at daycare may
GIVEN TO MORE CHILDREN
provide some protection
against persistent wheeze,”
more research is called for.
It questions whether
The government has promised to earmark at least with mothers and fathers working abroad,” writes
attendance at nursery itself is
“The concept of £10 million to build more overnight accommodation The Telegraph’s Education Editor, Graham Paton. He
protective or “whether the
partnership
in schools. notes Lord Adonis, the School Minister’s belief that
population of children who
“where appropriate” boarding can “be a fantastic
attend nursery during their
between home
Whilst some independent schools were finding
opportunity for vulnerable children.”
childhood is intrinsically
and school is the
difficulty in filling their boarding places in the 1990s,
different to the population
the new century has seen a growing demand for
Independent schools would argue not only
which does not.”
biggest change places in the independent sector and, more latterly,
vulnerable children benefit from boarding. Tom
in boarding in
the state sector. Over 5000 children are already
Haines, Headmaster of Tonbridge School, writing in Link between the MMR
Attain magazine, says: “The concept of partnership
the recent years
attending state boarding schools with 4 or 5
vaccine and autism
applicants for every space available.
between home and school is the biggest change in ruled out
- parents
boarding in the recent years - parents become part
A new US study that
become part of a
Over 5000 children are already
of a team raising their child.”
replicates the one carried out
BBC News Education’s Angela Harrison warns that
by Dr Andrew Wakefield,
team raising
attending state boarding schools
critics are wary of the new funding: “Labour MP,
found no evidence of a link
their child”
with 4 or 5 applicants for every
between the MMR vaccine and
Barry Sheerman, Chairman of the Commons
autism and gastro-intestinal
space available
education committee is worried that putting
problems, says The Daily Mail.
vulnerable children into large institutional settings
might be harmful.” She reports that: “A separate pilot
The surge in measles cases in
Parents are keen for their children to experience a
programme has been running in England, funded by
the UK and the US is blamed
broad curriculum where activities and learning to live on the belief by parents that
with others are important skills for life.
the government, since late 2006.
MMR might cause autism.
In this initiative vulnerable children are funded by the
State schools will have to apply for funding but those
Several studies have now
local authority to take up places in independent discredited Dr Wakefield’s
with children who have particular needs will be a
boarding schools.” research and he is currently
priority. The money will largely be spent on
undergoing disciplinary action
“accommodation for children from broken homes, This programme is being evaluated and a report is
for professional misconduct.
those with parents in the Armed Forces and pupils expected in the autumn.
P. 5
Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36