School Accused Of 'Sexualising' Fitness After Promoting Class For Pupils To Get A 'Bikini Body' | HuffPost Life

'The classes had been advertised without much thought.'

By

Life editor at HuffPost UK

A school caused outrage by advertising "bikini body" fitness classes for pupils.

The Ripley Academy in Derbyshire, that teaches pupils aged 11 to 18, had posters promoting the after-school class organised by a supply teacher.

"Isn't it bad enough to have impressionable girls, to already be worrying about the state of their bodies?" a parent, who wished to remain anonymous, told the Matlock Mercury.

"This is sexualising the fitness class."

However, the classes were cancelled and the school was forced to apologise after a teacher alerted the principal, Carey Ayres.

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Ayres claimed she had not given permission for the classes to go ahead.

"As soon as we were made aware of these after-school classes they were cancelled as they did not reflect the values of the academy," a spokesperson for The Ripley Academy told The Huffington Post UK.

"We would like to sincerely apologise for any offence caused. They were organised by a supply teacher, who is covering a member of staff on maternity leave, without permission from the principal and this issue will be dealt with internally.

"We would never condone any class, or after-school activity, that may put pressure on any young person in terms of their own body image."

A parent said, according to the Telegraph: "I feel sorry for the school. The classes had been advertised without much thought and had been done so without the school's blessings."

Before You Go

How To Teach Positive Body Image

#1(01 of09)

I kept superficial comments about looks on the low down -- theirs, mine and other peoples. Looking well-kempt and co-ordinated was noticed rather than looking beautiful. (credit:Getty)

#2(02 of09)

I didn’t ban Barbies or princesses, but I added to the mix some real proportioned dolls. Check out Lottie Dolls or Lammily. (credit:Getty)

#3(03 of09)

Story time included books like The Paper Bag Princess or anything recommended on the Amelia Bloomer Project created by the Feminist Task Force of the Social Responsibilities Round Table of the American Library Association.A Mighty Girl is another great site. It's tag line is: the world's largest collection of books, toys and movies for smart, confident, and courageous girls. (credit:Getty)

#5(04 of09)

As puberty approached I discussed genetics, hormones and the challenges that I faced, as had my mother before me. (credit:Getty)

#6(05 of09)

My girls used their allowance to buy "J-14" and "Tiger Beat" magazines, but I would give them a subscription to "New Moon" as my Christmas gift. Also check out "Shameless" magazine. (credit:Getty)

#7(06 of09)

We discussed how the human form comes in all shapes and sizes. Check out Queen Latifah and Beyonce. They are both proud women who embrace their shape and size. (credit:Getty)

#8(07 of09)

When their bodies blossomed we looked online at what REAL breasts look like. Reality is very different from the porn sites or fashion magazines. (credit:Getty)

#9(08 of09)

I educated my daughters about how models are Photoshopped by watching and discussing the Dove Self-Esteem campaign. (credit:Getty)

#10(09 of09)

As they entered into high school we discussed friends who were developing eating disorders and who followed fads such as “pro-ana”, “thigh gap” and “thinspiration.”We talked about the political power to create change, as demonstrated by some magazines and organizations in the fashion industry that banned size zero models from the runway after several deaths of severely underweight models. (credit:Getty)

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