Parents have slammed a school for its punishments after allegedly putting 'nearly 100 students a day' into detention for rule-breaking.
Camborne Science and International Academy in Cornwall has faced backlash for the "harsh" detentions, which are also known as "reflection" time. Parents say their children are being penalised for begging for bathroom breaks, removing blazers during a heatwave and forgetting a clear pencil case.
Some parents allege that their children were suspended for not paying enough attention or resting their hands on a desk. Another claimed their child was penalised for yawning. Jemma Tresidder, 38, claims her son only spent half a day in lessons during his first week back at school. She said he was sent to 'reflection' on the second day of term for being two minutes late to class. The situation escalated when he failed to complete his reflection activity due to a bathroom break, resulting in his suspension.
She said: "They even rang me on Friday to ask why he wasn't in school but he was suspended on Thursday and they said they would ring me to let me know when he was allowed back but didn't. The school just seems to be putting all the kids who misbehave in one class and then there is a massive hall and it looks like nearly 100 students a day are in reflection." She also claimed that one of her son's teachers admitted that as many as 30 students had been suspended in just one day last week.
Parents Laura and Julian Ward have withdrawn their son from school because of the rules, reports Cornwall Live. Mrs Ward claims her son was also sent to reflection for being minutes late and for three-and-a-half hours was not allowed to use the toilet or have his lunch. She said: "They really upset my son. I think it's an absolute joke."
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More than 1,400 members have joined a Facebook community group, calling for change at the school and another in the area. Several students have also spoken up about their past experiences, claiming that the strict rules made their lives miserable.
Parent Tasha Fairy said both of her children have been sent to reflection for trivial reasons since the start of term. Her daughter, in Year 7, is finding the change particularly daunting. She said she was put into reflection twice - once for not knowing the answer in class and another for being too scared to say the answer in case she was sent back into detention. "It's been such an awful transition for her," Tasha said. "They shouldn't be punished for stuff like that and they should be encouraged in a positive way."
A spokesperson for CSIA said: "As an academy, we uphold the highest expectations for behaviour in order to foster a learning environment which empowers every student to achieve their potential. Whilst the vast majority of our students embrace these high standards, since the start of the academic year we have had to remind some students of the rules in place, which are consistently applied to all students, though it would not be appropriate to comment on individual circumstances.
"The only new rule this academic year was a requirement to have a transparent pencil case, a change which was well communicated before the end of the last term. Punctuality, organisation, good uniform and consideration towards others are essential core values necessary for personal success.
"As always, if any parents or carers have questions about how a policy was applied in a specific instance, they are encouraged to contact the academy directly through the usual and appropriate channels. In order to support continued excellence in teaching and learning across our academy, we are currently in the process of going through due diligence with Athena Learning Trust with a view to joining the Trust in the future. We have written to parents and carers explaining there will be an opportunity to consult before any final decisions are made and we will invite parents, carers and colleagues to take part in a consultation process in due course."
Athena Learning Trust told Cornwall Live that it isn't part of its portfolio of schools which means it isn't responsible for any behavioural rules that may be in place. The Mirror has contacted Athena Learning Trust for comment.
* This article was crafted with the help of an AI tool, which speeds up The Mirror's editorial research. An editor reviewed this content before it was published. You can report any errors to webhomepage@mirror.co.uk
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