Seeing rats so regularly you give them names is a sign that your school has a health and safety problem, said Suzanne Nantcurvis of the NASUWT national executive.
The North Wales representative said a colleague had been surprised to see a large rat on a school visit, standing on its hind legs and eating a doughnut. “Oh - it’s only Cyril. He lives in the flowerbed,” said a member of staff.
Mrs Nantcurvis said: “The fact that the rat had been humanised is an appalling testimony to the acceptance of rat infestation.” Other rats, which she refused to name, ate parts of art coursework. Delegates called on the union to survey school health and safety.