Croydon school bans pupils from hugging and handshakes

A secondary school in south London has banned students from all physical contact with each other, including hugging, high-fives and handshakes.

The Quest Academy in South Croydon has enforced the new policy since it replaced Selsdon High School in September last year.

Anita Chong, whose 15-year-old daughter was given a detention for hugging a friend, called the rules "crazy".

The school's principal, Andy Croft, said the rules helped combat bullying.

He said: "Physical contact between students is not allowed at the academy because it is often associated with poor behaviour or bullying and can lead to fighting."

Ms Chong said the school had taken its rules too far.

"We live in a society where we use touch and we use terms of endearment," she said.

"My daughter is one of those that is having exams and she is being taken out of lessons for something so trivial. I find it diabolical really."