'Sexualising kids': School slammed over 'inappropriate' student competition

A school is under fire for asking students to vote for who had the 'best bum' and 'most flirty' for the school's yearbook. Photo / 123RF

A school is under fire for asking students to vote for who had the "best bum" and was "most flirty" for the school's yearbook.

Students, aged between 15 and 16, came up with the idea, which was handed around the school as an optional survey to fill out.

But worried parents have since criticised the Derbyshire school, with many accusing them of sexualising children and putting the spotlight on body hang-ups.

Some parents branded the voting forms as "bullying", while others accused the school of sexism.

The voting form also asked people to list the "best looking", "flirtiest", "cutest couple", "drama queen or king", and "best hair", "most loveable rogue", and "teacher's pet", among other questions.

Jane Gretton, who has a 15-year-old daughter at the school, told the Derbyshire Telegraph, "I am absolutely appalled by these voting slips, it is more like something out of an American school and to me it is just another form of bullying.

"To be asking questions like who has the best bum at that age is just ridiculous."

"They are young people and if there are children at the school who have hang-ups over their body or their personality, then it could affect their mental health in the future."

Andrew Marsh, headteacher of Highfields School, apologised to worried parents saying he was unaware of the yearbook's formatting. Photo / Google Maps

The school has now cancelled the student-designed survey and issued a statement to parents, saying: "To Year 11 parents and students – We are aware of the issue with our Yearbook nominations and any planning around the Yearbook has been suspended until further notice. We apologise for any inconvenience."

However, other parents have sided with the school, calling those who are outraged "professionally offended types" and encouraging the children to continue creating their own ideas for their yearbook.

"As a parent, I support the yearbook. It's put together by the kids and if they want to survey the most flirty or best bum then let them. Does this stupid woman not realise that they talk about stuff like that? Why should one 'furious parent' who betrayed the school get to decide?" one person wrote.

Another said: "Small group of overly conservative parents going to ruin it for whole year... a bit of harmless fun for several years until now. The kids won't forgive you for this."