Head orders teachers to shake EVERY pupil’s hand

A GRAMMAR school head has caused a hygiene row after insisting pupils shake teachers’ hands before each lesson.

The policy was introduced by Amanda Simpson, who became the first female head of Tunbridge Wells Grammar School For Boys in Kent this month.

She said she wanted pupils to feel ‘welcomed and appreciated’, pointing out the scheme had proved successful at her previous school, a comprehensive. But with some teachers shaking up to 150 hands a day, parents fear the spread of contagious norovirus or winter flu.

Staff at the school, which has more than 1,200 pupils, are reportedly bringing in hand sanitisers. One parent, who asked to remain anonymous, said: ‘It will be interesting to see what happens if there’s an outbreak of norovirus.’

Another commented: ‘Students have been told to shake the hands of their teachers at every lesson. Absurd.’

But Mrs Simpson, a former PE and dance teacher, said: ‘We have had no negative reaction from pupils.

‘Although we keep the school as clean as possible, pupils will inevitably touch handrails, doorknobs and other items which other boys have touched during the day. So to focus on contact through a simple handshake is strange.’

Bacteriologist Professor Hugh Pennington said: ‘If this was associated with a hand-washing policy I’d be very happy.’

Handshaking is customary in Swiss schools. But many hospitals in America have banned it over hygiene fears.