Jamie Oliver sparks row after pupil in his new Dream School show is branded ‘fat’ by Dr David Starkey

By
Jody Thompson
Last updated at 4:22 PM on 3rd March 2011

Teachers have slated Jamie Oliver’s latest television crusade after a teenage boy was singled out and called ‘fat.’

The first episode of Dream School, which aims to get troubled youngsters back into the education system, aired last night on Channel 4 and saw historian David Starkey rounding on a boy.

Chastising the lad for his size and telling him to go on a diet, he tells the hapless teen: ‘Come on, you’re so fat you couldn’t really move.’

Scroll down to watch last night’s episode…

School’s out: Jamie Oliver, centre front, with Dr David Starkey, third left centre, with the pupils and the rest of teachers on Jamie’s Dream School

He then adds: ‘Poor lad has got a problem. With Jamie’s food, there’ll be lots of dieting opportunities.’

An outraged Russell Hobby, general secretary of the National Association of Headteachers, told the Evening Standard: ‘If you think a child has a health problem there are ways to deal with it without humiliating them.’

Mr Hobby added: ‘Fair play to Jamie Oliver for looking at this. But so many people think teaching is easy and they could do a better job. But there is a whole level of skill and character involved.

Rant: Teachers have criticised Dr Starkey for ‘humiliating’ the boy

‘You need to maintain your temper and treat pupils with respect.’

The programme follows pupils who have failed to pass five decent GCSEs and have been turned off by mainstream school.

In last night’s debut episode, Dr Starkey tells a group of pupils some ‘home truths’ and reminds them: ‘You are all here because you have failed.’

After his history lesson, he rails about the teens once more – with apparent emphasis on the larger youth – saying: ‘They’re destroying themselves. They’re destroying what they could be as human beings.’

Dream Schools features a host of other famous ‘inspirational’ experts taking lessons in the school to inspire its 20 pupils to learn.

For example, Olympic gold medal decathlete Daley Thomson will be leading the physical education lessons, Simon Callow drama, Ellen McArthur yachting, science by Professor Robert Winston and Rolf Harris art.   

Politics is taught by Alastair Campbell, maths by Alvin Hall and other figures such as Cherie Blair, Tinchy Stryder, Andrew Motion and Rankin have also pitched in with lessons.

The teachers were advised by award-winning secondary headmaster John D’Abbro.

Jamie’s Dream School is on Channel 4 on Wednesdays at 9pm.