Several parents told the Mercury this week their children had been informed by a senior teacher at a school assembly that hugging was banned and those caught in the act would be punished with detention.

However, the Education Department dismissed the claims and instead said hugging had merely been mentioned during a discussion outlining examples of inappropriate behaviour.

Students from the school yesterday responded by venting their frustration on the Mercury's website.

They rejected suggestions that students had misinterpreted the assembly presentation.

"I am a senior student at Figtree High, and what it says in the article is exactly what was said in assembly at school," one student wrote.

"Nothing that was said was misinterpreted - it was as plain as stated. I think it's ridiculous."

Another wrote: "I'm a student in Year 10 at Figtree High School and I would just like to say that during the assembly it was clearly stated and I quote 'if you touch, kiss or hug anyone, you will be sent to the deputy's office and sent home'."

A parent with two children at the school wrote that she also believed hugging had been banned.

An Education Department spokeswoman yesterday remained adamant Figtree High students were not banned from hugging.

She said the school had received no formal complaints about the matter.

The Mercury made repeated attempts to contact the high school last week and on Monday was referred to the Education Department for comment.

A Facebook page created by students entitled "im gonna hug you so tight tomorrow when i see you LOL JK i go to figtree high and it's banned" had yesterday received the "thumbs up" from 162 people.