This school lets pupils wear slippers to class - and they're better behaved as a result

One primary school is letting pupils wear slippers during lessons in a bid to improve grades.

Findern Primary School in Derby is thought to be the first school in the UK to allow the comfy footwear – and the option has proven so popular that even teachers are getting in on the slipper action.

The school introduced the idea after a 10-year study found that children who learn with no shoes are more likely to behave well and achieve good grades.

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Deputy headteacher Michelle Hall said they have already noticed improvements in pupils who wear slippers at the school in Findern, Derbyshire.

She explained, “One of the teachers suggested the idea after seeing some research, and when we pitched the idea to the children they were very excited.

“Our pupils are already very well behaved but there have been some changes. There is less stomping around and the pupils are a lot calmer and seem very relaxed.”

One pupil, Maisie Futcher, aged ten, said: “When we found out it was going to happen everyone shouted ‘yes’ and we all love it.”

The move, which was introduced two weeks ago, has received a mixed reaction from parents. Some are very on board but one dad, who didn’t want to be named, thinks it gives children the wrong message.

“School sets you up for the world of work and uniform is a big part of maintaining standards,” he said.

“I think this is a load of new-age nonsense and I can’t see how allowing slippers in the classroom is going to benefit anybody.

“You see all these teenagers going to Tesco is their pyjamas and this kind of policy just encourages that sort of slobbish behaviour.”

The study that inspired the move is a 10-year piece of research carried out by Bournemouth University.

Researchers covered 25 countries and found that having pupils remove their shoes at school fostered a calmer and quieter environment.

It also seemed to indicate that children were more likely to get to school earlier, leave later and read more – with the move even reducing bullying in some classes.

The slipper system is widely used in Scandinavia where cold weather means that children take their snow boots off before entering the classroom.