DETENTION (Picture: Getty/Metro)

We’re totes emosh about a school’s attempt to stop pupils using TOWIE slang in case it hinders them in the job market.

The Ongar Academy in Essex is worried students aren’t learning, like, formal English and when they go for a job interview they might drop in ‘geezer’, ‘aint’ and ‘bird’.

So it has started a campaign to get students to think about how they speak.

Students caught using words including ‘like’ and ‘literally’ incorrectly will get a dressing down from teachers.


TOWIE has a lot to answer for (Picture: ITV)

Someone has invented a game where you can kick Jeremy HuntHead teacher David Grant said: ‘We have noticed since we started the school that students use a certain idiolect, which is particular to this area and in the future may not favourably reflect on them when they attend college and job interviews.



‘Also, children tend to write as they speak so incorrect use of words in their speech are reflected in their written English.’

At the moment, the project only includes Year 7 pupils.

However, it is set to run indefinitely and will highlight a particular phrase each fortnight.

Assistant head Rebecca Hingston said things were going well: ‘Out in the playground we have heard pupils correcting each other when they use the phrase ‘ain’t’ and parents have mentioned that their children have been commenting on their incorrect usage of words too.

Watching its language: The Ongar Academy (Picture: Facebook/The Ongar Academy)

‘I really believe the pupils want to be able to speak well. They are just not aware that the usage of some of their words is wrong but having it pointed out to them politely, but firmly, they are keen to lose the bad habits.’

Meanwhile in the North… April snow warnings issued across northeastMr Grant said pupils would be competing with other Europeans for jobs and non-native English speakers who might be better spoken because they were taught ‘proper’ English’.

‘In this year of the Queen’s 90th birthday and commemoration of 400 years since Shakespeare’s death and I think we have a responsibility to ensure the way the pupils talk gives a positive impression,’ he said.