A school has doubled down on its “prison-like” policy for Saturday detentions amid a crackdown on unruly behaviour.

Towers School in Ashford this week moved to defend one of its most serious punishments as debate raged among parents.

While some back the Kennington secondary’s tough rules, others argue the measures are draconian and heavy-handed.

But Towers principal Richard Billings stressed the comprehensive’s core belief is every student “has the right to learn in a disruption-free environment.”

Leanne Kirkin, 32, who has two children at the school, told KentOnline: “I feel the school's rules are too much at times.

“I would not send them in if they ever receive a Saturday detention. Weekends are for family time and for children to rest after their week at school.

“The policy is ridiculous and I do not think many parents will be sending their children to a Saturday detention.

“If I feel my child has been bad at school, I can punish them the way I see fit and the school can punish them in its time.”

The school sent parents an email on November 17 reminding them of the possible sanctions, introduced in 2017, prompting a strong social media reaction.

Overseen by senior leadership, Saturday detentions run from 9am to 10am, and are reserved for children removed from class four times during a week, the letter said.

But Jimbo Kirk argued on social media that Towers “is a school, not a prison”, while parents, rather than teachers, should be responsible for reprimanding children.

“All my kids are now very successful adults and that did not come about by them being given sanctions by the school,” he said.

“If kids mess about, schools should notify parents to let them discipline the kids and impose any sanctions.

“Teachers are there to teach and not instil discipline.

“Many times we have told kids not to go to detention and come straight home.

“We the parents will decide what happens to our kids, not bloody teaching staff.”

Anna Tsarvouli says staff at the school should instead “check the reasons why a child has been given four resets in a week”.

A “reset” is where a disruptive pupil gets sent out of class until they are ready to return.

Ms Tsarvouli added: “I find it very hypocritical and this attitude towards teenagers doesn't teach them anything.”

Daniel Ambler says he would not let his children attend a weekend detention as “it is family time”.

Under the school’s policy, if a pupil needs to be removed from class during periods one to four, they will attend a one-hour detention from 3.15pm to 4.15pm the same day.

If the incident occurs in period five, the sanction will be served the following day.

But if a pupil is removed from class four times in a week they will be required to attend Saturday detention in full school uniform that same week.

According to the Education Act 1997, detention outside school hours is lawful even without parental consent.

While some have hit out at the policy, other parents voiced their support on social media.

Linzi Nutley says: “This is for four or more resets in one week.

“If your child is given a Saturday detention and your attitude is not to send them, no wonder there is a behaviour issue.

“A teacher is giving their time out of their weekend with their own family because there is a behavioural issue.

“If you want what is best for your child then teach them right from wrong in the first place.”

Jake Lynch also backed the tough rules.

“It takes four or more resets to get a Saturday detention,” he said. “[They] obviously need some discipline.”

Graham Crabb wrote: “Fair play to the school.”

An email sent to parents last week said the school’s “ethos on behaviour is built on certainty and not severity”.

“We fundamentally believe that every student has the right to learn in a disruption-free environment...”

“We appreciate this is sometimes a delicate balancing act to get right because some actions will require a more significant sanction compared to others,” it continued.

“Students who get more than one reset in a day will still only be required to sit a single detention.

“However, all resets will count towards the sanction for multiple resets, with the system being wiped clean at the end of every term so that all students have a fresh start.

“The detention will be overseen by members of the senior leadership team because students need to understand that this is a serious infringement and the school takes it very seriously.”

Responding to the criticism, Towers School principal Richard Billings told KentOnline that children have the “right to learn in a disruption-free environment”, while sanctions are intended to help pupils become “the best versions of themselves”.

“As a school, we fundamentally believe that every student has the right to learn in a disruption-free environment,” Mr Billings said in a statement.

“We know that families choose our school as they are looking for a focused, calm environment where their child can learn effectively, free from distraction.

“Saturday detentions have been included as part of our Behaviour Policy since 2017 and are only used when a student has disrupted the learning of others on multiple occasions in a school week.

“Our sanctions system is balanced by a much wider programme of support, care and celebration, all aimed at helping our students to become the best versions of themselves.”

A reset room is where pupils are not punished but instead encouraged to regulate their emotions and behaviour so they can return to class.

In 2020, another school in Kent came under fire for planning to introduce Saturday detentions.

The move by Folkestone Academy, designed to boost attendance, attracted a largely negative reaction from many parents.