Alarm sounds for late pupils

No pupils have arrived late after getting the clocks

The problem of pupils arriving late for lessons at a Midlands school has been solved after each child was given an alarm clock.

Now youngsters at Newstead Primary School in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, have no excuse for arriving after the school bell.

The headteacher claims all late arrivals have been eliminated as the alarm clocks ensure every child gets up earlier.

Pupils said they are enjoying the extra lesson time and the scheme has won the approval of teachers as well as parents.

Pupils have got the alarms for free

Headteacher, Pat Jones, said she got the idea for the free alarms after finding out why one persistent dawdler started arriving on time.

"There was one family who was often late and one of the elder sisters started to come on time," she said.

"I asked what was different and she said 'Oh we've got an alarm clock' and I just said 'I would've bought you an alarm clock 12 months ago if I thought it was going to get you here on time'."

The school late book includes some tame excuses for missing the start of lessons including "No alarm clock" and "Dad didn't make the sandwiches".

'Great reward'

Now children seem happy to be spending more time at school.

"It's good because I can get up early and then I don't have to miss out on any lessons at school," said eight-year-old Georgina Priestley.

Her father, David Priestley, said: "I think it's great that kids are being rewarded for their attendance.

"Hopefully the children will learn to be more punctual."