School tried to liven up lesson by telling children they had typhoid

A group of terrified children were left in tears when their teacher decided to liven up a creative writing class by telling them they might have typhoid.

The youngsters had only been at secondary school for four days when they were told there was a local epidemic and they might have to be locked inside for 48 hours. Some of the 11-year-old pupils were left crying in fear until it was revealed the "epidemic" was fictional.

They were told about it as part of an exercise intended to trigger emotional responses which they could then write about.



One appalled mother said: "My son said his teachers had told him they had to stay in school and be tested. If they had red spots or feel sick they had to report to the nurse straight away.

"Then they were told it was all a joke. It was a lesson in relaying emotions and writing about how they dealt with it. I'm horrified. This was only the fourth day at senior school for these children."

Mary Morrison, the head teacher at Bower Park School in Romford, Essex, met with parents after the lesson to explain it had been part of an attempt to make classes more exciting and engaging.