Blackpool primary school imposes birthday cake ban

A primary school has banned children from taking birthday cakes into school.

Norbreck Primary Academy in Blackpool, Lancashire, announced the decision via an online newsletter citing that some children could be allergic to ingredients and that it was "too much to expect teachers to read ingredient lists" on a busy day.

Headteacher Karen McCarter said she hated to be a "kill-joy" but said that any cakes brought into class would be sent home uneaten.

The letter said: "I hate to be a kill-joy but we have decided that it is no longer possible for children to bring birthday cakes to school. There are many reasons for this, some of them serious.

"As we are not able to account for the ingredients in the cake, we could therefore unknowingly give a product to a child to which they are allergic. Even if we had a list of ingredients, in a busy school day, it is too much to expect teachers to read ingredient lists and then decide who can and who cannot eat the product.

"Any cakes sent into school for birthdays or other reasons will be sent home uneaten. I appreciate that this is sad, but in our modern society in which we are held accountable, we cannot take the risk. Many thanks for your understanding and compliance with this."