Parents threaten to remove children from Formby school over Wi-Fi installation

Oct 21 2009 by Lyndsay Young, Liverpool Daily Post

PARENTS have vowed to take their children out of a Merseyside school if Wi-Fi laptops are installed.

They fear their children will be exposed to “emissions” from the 50 new wireless computers at Woodlands primary school, in Formby.

A petition signed by 32 parents was gathered against the equipment, which is set to be installed in the next week.

Phil Hughes, 58, a homeopath, said he selected Woodlands primary for his daughter Serena, nine, because there are no mobile phone masts nearby.

He said he will take his daughter out of the school if Wi-Fi is installed.

Mr Hughes is calling on staff to meet with parents before the equipment is put in place.

He said: “We have evidence in our possession showing there are levels of danger with Wi-Fi.

“We wanted a meeting to put our case to other parents. You cannot make a decision if you have not got all of the information.Parents should at least be informed.”

Andrea O’Shaughnessy, 39, and her husband William, 35, also vowed to take their two children out of the school and want laptops to be hardwired instead.

She said: “We decided we will take them out if Wi-Fi does go in.

“We believe it emits radiation and my fear is they would be around that for six hours a day, whether it is low level or not.

“It could show in 10 years’ time, when they get a brain tumour or some kind of cancer.

“They put asbestos in schools years ago and said it was safe, and it is only just coming out now it is not.”

Headteacher Simon Grilli said: “Naturally, I am very disappointed at the prospect of parents taking their children out of school.

“The governors and I spent considerable time at a full governing body meeting on October 1, scrutinising the articles sent in by the two parents and considered their points and opinions.

“The governors and I ultimately accepted the assurances of the Health Protection Agency, BECTA and the view of Sefton Council.

“All parents received a long letter outlining the governors’ review, with a request any parent with continuing concerns contact the chairman of governors immediately.

“No-one to date has contacted him.”

On July 13, the Health Protection Agency stated: “On the basis of the studies so far, we see no reason why Wi-Fi should not continue to be used in schools.

“However, with any new technology, it is a sensible precautionary approach, as happened with mobile phones, to keep the situation under ongoing review, so parents and others can have as much reassurance as possible.”

TO FIND out more about WiFi, log on to www.hpa.org.uk