"Like", "innit" and "bare" are just some of the words firmly placed in the vocabulary of the young people of today, but they have made the list of banned words at one Croydon school.

Students at Harris Academy Upper Norwood now have to think before they speak, after new principal Chris Everitt introduced a list of 10 informal phrases forbidden in classrooms and corridors that are now considered formal language zones.

The list which also includes "coz", "aint", "extra" "you woz" and "we woz", was implemented by Mr Everitt who took charge of the newly opened academy in September.

As part of the initiative students are also unable to begin sentences with "basically" and end sentences with "yeah".

The banned words form a sample of the frequently heard in places the school considers to be a formal setting.

The list will be updated to account for changes to students' vocabulary over time.

The initiative aims to raise awareness about the use of formal language and staff hope it will prepare students for formal situations they will face in later life, such as interviews.

Students are corrected if they are heard to use any of the banned phrases in the formal language zones.

The scheme is one of many introduced by Mr Everitt since the school became an academy, replacing Westwood Girls' College, that had been placed in special measures by Ofsted last year.

A spokeswoman for Harris Academy Upper Norwood said: "In addition to giving students the teaching they need to thrive academically, we want them to develop the soft skills they will need to compete for jobs and university places.

"This particular initiative is just one of the many ways in which we are building the vocabulary of our students and giving them the skills they need to express themselves confidently and appropriately for a variety of audiences."

Liam Reddington, a spokesman from the Plain English Campaign said he “fully applauds” the school for taking a stance.

He said: “Schools are responsible for preparing young people for adult life and they need to be able to speak properly. 

"Within a school they [staff] are responsible for students and I think what this school is doing is very admirable. I do think other schools should follow their example.”

 

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