AN Accrington primary school ordered to improve by Ofsted after concerns were raised about ‘boisterous and rough’ pupils has banned energy drinks.

St Nicholas Church of England Primary School said it would confiscate any sports energy drinks found on youngsters after it found they were making youngsters misbehave.

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In a letter home to parents, headteacher Vicky Axon said: “Many of the pupils drinking these types of drinks on the way to school are having difficulties with their behaviour throughout the day.

“I am therefore banning these drinks in school. Any drinks of this kind that are brought in will be confiscated.

“Pupils who take part in before or after school sports activities are to bring water and not a sports drink.”

The school, in St Nicholas Road, was given a rating of ‘requires improvement’ by education watchdog Ofsted following an inspection in January.

Lead inspector Christine Potter and her colleague Alastair Younger said some pupils were ‘too boisterous and rough’ when playing together, with a small minority misbehaving in class.

However, strengths included the new headteacher, Vicky Axon, who was described as ‘highly ambitious’, students getting off to a good start in the early years department, ‘highly skilled’ teaching assistants, and the safety and security of the school.

The Lancashire Telegraph’s medical correspondent, Dr Tom Smith, said he supported the school’s move.

He said: “These energy drinks contain an awful lot more sugar than they should for children, and they get a very high-level charge in their blood stream, and that could make them hyper-active.

“And they don’t have the nous to control their behaviour at their young age.

“There is no reason to give energy drinks to children, they should just have water.

“On basic health grounds I would support the school in saying that these energy drinks are not fit for children.”

A 250ml can of Red Bull contains seven teaspoons of sugar.

The World Health Organisation said children should consume no more than six. but someHowever, a typical Braeburn apples contains the equivalent of three spoonfuls, while a banana also contains around seven.

A spokesman for WHO said: “There is increasing concern that consumption of free sugars, particularly in the form of sugar-sweetened beverages, may result in both reduced intake of foods containing more nutritionally adequate calories and an increase in total caloric intake, leading to an unhealthy diet, weight gain and increased risk of non-communicable diseases.”