In September, Cotham School introduced a ban on Cotham Students accessing the shops at the top of Cotham Brow- including Tuck News and Chili Bellies. The decision to make this change followed an incident where a window was accidentally broken when one pupil pushed another into the window. Since then, the school has situated teachers at the entrances to the shops to inhibit student access. The school maintains that they are acting lawfully and in the best interests of the community. However, I believe that the ban is not only unlawful but also damaging to the local businesses and, hence, community.

Jabir Shar, owner of Tuck News, claims he may be forced to close his shop if the ban is continued, as he is losing hundreds of pounds a day. Not only has much of his demographic been banned from his shop, but he is also losing customers as the 'teacher standing outside makes our other customers suspicious about what's going on.'. The school is misleading parents and pupils to think that the shop owners don't want the students in their shops, which couldn't be further from the truth according to Mr Shar. The school has acted in its own interest, trying to preserve its reputation at the expense of the local community. If anything, the ban has in fact tarnished the school's reputation within the community as people now view the school as prying and overbearing. I propose that uplifting the ban is the best way to help these, now struggling, local businesses. 

The school's actions break the Highways Act 1980 Section 137, which states "If a person, without lawful authority or excuse, in any way wilfully obstructs the free passage along a highway he is guilty of an offence". I do not believe that the school has the authority nor excuse to carry out these actions, as not only does the school have no right to enforce its rules outside of school hours, but the shops in question are some 350 metres away from the school site. By preventing students from accessing the shops, the school has infringed on students right to privacy without interference, which is a human right according to Article 8 of the Human Rights Act. If the school teachers cannot comply with the law, then why should students have to comply with frivolous school rules? Headteacher Jo Butler justifies these actions, saying that the school is 'safeguarding' its students due to the narrow roads and pavements and that the school has close to 1,600 students exiting the school through one exit on Cotham Road. However, this is an issue that the school itself has created, by only permitting students to use one exit of the five exits at the school. I propose that students should be able to leave the site via the exit on Cotham Lawn Road as well, as this would dilute the flow of students from the school.

The school further tries to justify its exertion of power by arguing that whilst students are wearing uniform, the school rules apply. This is simply false, as the Human Right of privacy without interference applies regardless of the clothing a person is wearing. Whilst it is true that students wearing the Cotham uniform are representing the school in the wider community, I don't see how students using a shop sensibly after school would ruin the schools reputation.

In effect, the school has tried to exert its power onto students unnecessarily and this is running the risk of local businesses being forced to close down. I propose that the ban should be uplifted and Cotham students be free to do as they please after school. Additionally I propose a secondary or tertiary exit to be opened, allowing for a faster diffusion of students at the end of the school day.