PUPILS at a Didcot school are now allowed to bring in food and packed lunches, after a controversial ban was lifted.

Children at Aureus School used to have to eat the food on sale in the canteen, as there were strict rules on not bringing in their own food or any drink other than water from home.

Some pupils tried to sneak in snacks, and were seen buying sweets from the nearby ASDA before class, which prompted a warning to parents in February about staff carrying out 'random bag checks' at the gate.

READ AGAIN: School to search pupils' bags for banned sweets

However, the secondary school has since relaxed its rules and scrapped the ban.

A spokesperson for GLF, the academy trust that runs the school, said: "The school has reviewed its catering arrangements in light of feedback from staff, students and parents.

"In addition, we are ensuring the catering operation is suitable as Aureus grows in size."

The Swan School in Oxford, which opened earlier this month, came under fire for a similar policy on food.

As reported in the Oxford Mail last week, as well as only offering vegetarian lunches, pupils are not allowed to bring in any food or snacks.

Comparison was made in the article to Aureus School, but a reader got in touch to highlight how the policy at the latter had been reversed this year - 'albeit with a strict guideline on what is allowed in the lunch.'

The reader added: "Parents just need to keep the very public pressure up and on to force change."

READ AGAIN: Swan School operates vegetarian-only canteen

The new Aureus lunch policy reads: "Students are able to bring their own packed lunches, however we will not allow any highly caffeinated/sugary drinks, nor will they be allowed to eat excessive amounts of sugary foods.

"Water is the preferred option as research shows students learn best when they are well hydrated."

Aureus School opened in Great Western Park in September 2017, and now has students in Years 7, 8 and 9.

A parent complained to the Oxford Mail in June 2018 about the food policies, branding them 'draconian.'

Changes have been made since the departure of the school's inaugural headteacher, Hannah Wilson, who resigned in March.

In a tweet shared with her 21,000 followers at the weekend, she revealed she resigned because she was 'sick of the toxic cultures in multi-academy trusts and systemic failures nationally.'

A GLF spokesperson said the trust was 'disappointed that a former colleague has chosen to express their personal views via social media.'