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

'The classes had been advertised without much thought.'

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."