A well-equipped hamster cage: The rationalisation of primary school playtime

This article reports a small-scale study into four primary schools within in one local Education Authority. Whilst initially exploring the nature of playtime activities I became aware that a number of head teachers and other members of staff where taking a rigorous approach towards the management of playtime with the result that playtime was becoming a highly rationalised activity. The study revealed that in the search for safety, and in a desire to avoid confrontation with parents and prescriptive agencies, some schools were in danger of taking all the fun and spontaneity out of playtime.