FEARS are growing for schoolchildren’s safety as dogs continue to disrupt PE lessons.

Nine dogs were spotted at a recent lesson on BHASVIC and Cardinal Newman Catholic School playing fields in Old Shoreham Road, Hove.

A headteacher said it represented an “unacceptable disruption” with two children bitten in the last year.

Cardinal Newman has been working with the local authority, schools, BHASVIC and the Friends of the Field group to come to a solution.

Headteacher James Kilmartin said: “Our overwhelming concern is for the health and safety of the children.

“Dogs represent a particular problem given that two students in the last year have been bitten by dogs off lead.

“In a recent lesson, a PE teacher counted nine dogs which represents an unacceptable disruption of teaching and learning.

“We also cannot allow unregulated members of the public to mix with our children during lessons and at break time. This is for obvious child protection and safeguarding reasons.”

Brighton and Hove City Council owns two thirds of the field and residents are free to roam on them.

Pinaki Ghoshal, council executive director of children’s services, said: "The school have reported that there have been a number of incidents with dogs recently including dogs running free on the field, a dog owner being abusive to staff and dog walkers walking into the middle of PE lessons.

“This is occurring during the school day. I have concerns about the safety to children.

“One area we have discussed and where I believe there has been broad agreement is about the use of the field during the school day by the school to do PE lessons and for there not to be free access at this point and certainly not access by dogs.”

BHASVIC head Chris Thomson agreed it was a problem and said the school would keep an open mind to solve the issue.

Lou McCurdy, of Friends of the Field, said: “Basically, we want the council to take responsibility for the field.

“It’s come to a stand-off and something just needs to be done.

“We tried to set up a meeting, but we haven’t got anywhere – it’s just emails backwards and forwards.”