Pupils at a new £46 million “super school” will have no break and no playground because the headmaster does not agree with the concepts.

Alan McMurdo, head of the Thomas Deacon city academy in Peterborough, which is to open in the autumn, said that learning would improve if pupils had to concentrate on lessons throughout the day. PE and organised games on adjacent playing fields will be part of the timetable and there will be just a 30-minute break for lunch.

The school, which will have maths and science specialist status, has defended the plans, saying that pupils would be able to “let off steam in an organised way”. Dr McMurdo said that the school would be run like a business. He said: “I want the teachers teaching and the children learning at the school. If children are enjoying lessons, then there will be no need to go and run off steam outside.”

Clarissa Williams, head of Tolworth Girls’ School in southwest London, said that children needed their own space in which to play and socialise. Her school had recently increased the number of tables outdoors to allow more pupils to eat lunch outside in fine weather.

She said: “Being outside and able to exercise is an essential part of the school day.”

This was not only true of schools, she added. “It’s interesting to see how many employees go out of their workplaces during the day for a run.”

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