Yahoo News Private school head 'bans pupils from having relationships with each other'
A private school headteacher has banned pupils from having boyfriends and girlfriends, even threatening to give them poor university references, according to reports.
Toby Belfield, principal of the £34,000-a-year Ruthin School in Wales, is said to have emailed pupils warning them anyone in a relationship would "definitely get a worse reference".
He later backtracked on his threat to punish pupils in relationships but maintained they would have to "review their romantic situation".
The leaked email suggests students at Ruthin School had previously been expelled for engaging in "sexual contact", a step Mr Belfield allegedly said he would not hesitate to take again.
According to the Daily Post, his initial email read: "I strongly disapprove of any boyfriend/girlfriend relationships - and it will always affect any university reference I write (meaning - any student in a relationship will definitely get a worse reference from me.
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Mr Belfield's email in full:
To be crystal clear:
1. Last year I expelled two students for sexual contact, in School.
2. I will NOT hesitate to do so again - students that have ANY sexual contact in School will be immediately expelled with no "second chance."
3. Staff are to be much more vigilant.
4. I STRONGLY disapprove of any boyfriend/girlfriend relationships - and it will ALWAYS affect any university reference I write (meaning - any student in a relationship will definitely get a worse reference from me.)
5. Relationships can start at university - and not at Ruthin School.
I will be talking to staff and, as in previous years, I will put together a list of any student with a boyfriend or girlfriend. These students - if in L6 or F5 can expect to find new schools in Septemeber.
There are plenty of students that wish to attend Ruthin School without the diversion of romance - and these students can replace those students whose focus is on bf/gf relationships.
School is not the place for romantic relationships - ever.
TJB
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"Relationships can start at university - not at Ruthin School."
After the memo was published, however, Mr Belfield told the Post he would not "hamper students' chances" if they were in a relationship.
He said: "If a student wants to achieve top grades...then I would not hamper their chances of a university place by writing a less favourable reference...
"My email was a generic one to all students...to try to dissuade them from being in a teenage relationship.
"[It] clearly said that having a relationship whilst at school is unnecessary and damaging to their education.
"[Pupils] will be given the opportunity to review their current romantic situation, and my belief is that they (and their parents) will put their education first."
The Standard approached Ruthin School for comment.
