May 10, 2016 11.58 am This story is over 94 months old

“Fuming” Lincoln mum takes son out of school following Fitbit row

The mother of a Lincoln village schoolboy has expressed her anger after she claimed his electronic fitness bracelet was confiscated. Suzy Stimpson said she took her 11-year old son Alfie out of St John’s Primary Academy in Bracebridge Heath on Friday after he was told he could not wear his Fitbit. She explained the school had enforced…
Fitbits have been banned from the Lincoln village school.

The mother of a Lincoln village schoolboy has expressed her anger after she claimed his electronic fitness bracelet was confiscated.

Suzy Stimpson said she took her 11-year old son Alfie out of St John’s Primary Academy in Bracebridge Heath on Friday after he was told he could not wear his Fitbit.

She explained the school had enforced a ban on ‘fancy bracelets’, but argued the gadget had been helping him lose weight and improve his fitness.

Taking to social media she said: “I’m not going to let this drop,” threatening on Friday to not let him return to school unless he was allowed to wear it.

Her Facebook post received over 100 ‘likes’.

Suzy said: “We sent him to school on Monday without his Fitbit, which he was very unhappy about.”

Update on Tuesday, May 10:

Suzy told reporters that after her social media posts and speaking with The Lincolnite, the school agreed to allow pupils to wear Fitbit bracelets, except for during PE lessons. “I’m very happy with the outcome,” she said.

The bracelet measures steps and encourages a healthy lifestyle. Suzy claims it was confiscated following a talk in the school’s assembly.

She added previously: “I think children who are told not to wear their Fitbit are being very poorly treated.

“My son has had his Fitbit six weeks and he’s lost four pounds in weight. He’s healthier and fitter already.

“Alfie is really embarrassed about it all. [The school has] made him feel small by taking it off him.”

The Lincolnite contacted St John’s Primary Academy, but the school declined to issue a statement about the matter.