A HEAD teacher is fighting for his students' rights to eat sweets by demanding the Government abolish "petty" school food rules.

Royal Alexandra and Albert's Paul Spencer Ellis is part of a group of head teachers challenging No 10 to change legislation that prevents their students from getting a sugary treat after school.

SWEET BAN: Royal Alexandra and Albert head teacher Paul Spencer Ellis says the rules are inappropriate for a boarding school

Rules introduced by the School Food Trust three years ago banned snacks at such state boarding schools as Mr Spencer Ellis's in Gatton Bottom Road, Reigate.

Consequences of the rules include:

Students taking salt sachets from nearby takeaway outlets due to salt-shaker ban

Children allowed chocolate pudding at lunch time – but not three hours later

Butter banned on jacket potatoes, while mayonnaise or cheese are not.

Mr Spencer Ellis said: "The whole logic is that the regulations are for a day school where the parents aren't going to feed them properly at home. But, in a boarding school, we do all their meals.

"But, as it stands, when pupils come into the boarding house after school, they want to grab some carbs and it's illegal. It's illegal for me to give them a sticky bun."

Mr Spencer Ellis claims the current system is flawed as he is allowed to give pupils a sweet dish at lunchtime, but banned from providing something similar after school.

The school has 410 boarders and the rules cover breakfast to after-school clubs.

Mr Spencer Ellis added: "It is so petty and completely bonkers. David Cameron promised he was going to abolish some of these silly rules, I hope he starts with this one.

"If we had school rules like these, I'd be embarrassed."

Ofsted inspectors also criticised the ruling when they did their social care inspection at the school in September 2007, shortly after the guidelines were introduced.

A comment from their report reads: "Boarders were also very vocal in their unhappiness at recently imposed food guidelines.

"These guidelines had led to the withdrawal of, for example, sausages at breakfast, the availability of butter or similar spread at lunchtime, and the provision of squash or fruit juice."