McDonald's bans entire school from branch 'after pupils abuse staff and diners'

23 October 2023 , 19:30

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Pupils from Burgess Hill Academy have been banned from the branch in West Sussex (Image: Google street view)

An entire school has been banned from a branch of McDonald’s after claims pupils repeatedly abused customers and staff.

Customers accused youngsters from Burgess Hill Academy, in West Sussex, of shouting and pushing each other at the branch, as well as running around and shocking a cone in a toilet. As a result the school’s 1,060 children have been banned from the fast-food restaurant before, during and after school hours while wearing their school uniform.

The Argus reported one furious parent saying: “Last week I was at McDonalds, it was very unpleasant. All the school kids were shouting and pushing, throwing salt and sugar in each other's hair.

"Children nowadays have no respect for adults or even each other and they have no discipline either." After agreeing the ban with the school and branch, Sussex Police urged people to report instances of antisocial behaviour. The University of Brighton Academies Trust, which runs the school, said the ban decision was made jointly by McDonald's, Sussex Police, and the school.

The trust added: "We are committed to promoting respectful and responsible behaviour. The trust has apologised to McDonald's for the inconvenience and said it does not condone the behaviour, irrespective of whether it occurred before, during, or after school hours. It is essential to emphasise the actions leading to this decision were the result of a single individual's actions and do not reflect the values and standards upheld by our academy and students.

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The trust said it supported the measure and understood the time frame for lifting the ban would be determined by McDonald's. A spokesman for Sussex Police said it was aware of reports of anti-social behaviour involving young people across Burgess Hill. They added: “We encourage anyone with any information on anti-social behaviour to report it online"

Antony Clements-Thrower