A Kingston woman has criticised her son's school after it hosted a yo-yo promotion by an American company and is calling for greater debate over the growing tide of commercialism in schools.

In a letter to local MP Edward Davey, Jo Kennedy complained that children at St Andrew's and St Mark's Junior School in Surbiton had been given a demonstration by US company Yo-Yo Extravaganza School Assemblies who then offered a range of yo-yos for sale.

Ms Kennedy said her son felt under pressure from his peers to buy one of the toys, which cost up to £10.

She is a single mother on benefits, and says she finds it difficult to cope with the pressures of keeping up with the latest craze.

She said: "When I send my children to school, I do so with the confidence and trust they will be educated, cared for, and protected, not be exposed en masse to this kind of commercial exploitation."

The school however says selling in schools is commonplace and other schools had hosted the same assembly display. A 10 per cent share of sales is standard for any school inviting in commercial enterprises. Mr Davey told the Comet he was not particularly alarmed and said that he was more concerned about the use of mobile phones or Pokemon cards.

He said: "No one wants schoolchildren exploited commercially. I'm just less worried about this than other things."

However Kingston's executive member for education, Councillor Martin Blakebrough said he thought the issue was part of a wider debate about commercialism in schools.

He said: "It's about where you draw the line. Schools have to find ways to bring income into their services."

He said the council would try to resist commercialism as much as possible but added: "Books and yo-yos, which are an alternative to TV are a good thing."

Headteacher Susan Pavlis said: "We are not unusual for having them in. They've been around a long time, it's nothing new."

She added the school also sells books during book week and photographs of the pupils each year.

"If it's a problem with selling we have to look at everything."

She said the school had allowed the demonstration as an end-of-term treat and some of the pupils would be demonstrating their new yo-yo skills at a talent show next week.

q Click on to www.surreycomet.co.uk to join the online yo-yo debate.

July 12, 2002 10:00