A KINGSWINFORD school has banned energy drinks such as Red Bull amid concerns they increase student disruptions in class.

Crestwood School headteacher Maxine Suthons has warned pupils tempted to bring the popular caffeine drinks into school for a pick-me up during break or lunchtimes that cans will be confiscated.

In a message to pupils and parents in the school newsletter, she claims Red Bull and other drinks like it have been “causing problems when they (children) return to class and are expected to sit quietly”.

And she told the News: “We have noticed there’s an increase in the numbers of children - particularly boys - that are drinking these. A lot are in great big half litre cans - and it is having a detrimental effect on their ability to concentrate in the afternoon.

“Energy drinks raise the heart rate and speed up the metabolism, which - as young healthy people - our pupils should not need.

“We provide water, fruit juice and healthy drinks in school and we really don’t want them bringing these drinks in. The amount of caffeine in them is incredibly high.

“Any drinks of this nature will be confiscated and returned to the pupil at the end of the day.”

A regular sized can of Red Bull (250ml) - which boasts the slogan ‘Red Bull gives you wings’ - contains 80mg of caffeine, about the same amount as a cup of coffee; and makers say it can help boost peformance and concentration.

The drink, however, is not recommended for those sensitive to caffeine - including children.

And the British Soft Drinks Association states: “High-caffeine energy drinks are not recommended in the UK for consumption by children and it is not permitted to provide them in schools.”

No-one from Red Bull was available for comment.