Strict new rules at a town secondary school have left pupils feeling like they’re in prison, parents claim.

A controversial three-strike system has been introduced at The Abbey in Faversham, reportedly leaving children anxious and placed in isolation for what have been described as “minor infringements”.

But the head teacher, Dr Rowland Speller, has defended the rules, saying what “might be regarded as traditional values” are “essential for effective teaching and learning”.

They include a crackdown on uniform breaches, which saw 47 pupils put in isolation on the first day of term, and a new system punishing children if they receive three “corrections”.

Pupils are also reprimanded for not having classroom essentials like a pen and pencil.

Dr Speller explained: “Students not reaching our expectations for behaviour and learning will be instructed to leave the classroom following their third correction.

“These corrections will be given clearly including a brief explanation about what the correction is for. If a second correction is needed the pupil’s name will be written on the board as a reminder and they may be asked to move seats.

“We aim for a calm and orderly school environment where students’ learning should never be disrupted..." Dr Speller

“If the pupil continues to disregard our expectations, they will then be sent to isolation.

“If pupils have arrived without equipment - we have intentionally kept the expectation to the minimum of a pen, pencil and planner - they will be given the opportunity to rectify this either by asking someone to bring them in the equipment, or by buying one from the school library.

“We feel that it is an extremely basic expectation that a child has a pen to enable them to participate in the lesson. Uniform infractions are placed in isolation until they are remedied, pupils are then able to return to their lesson.”

Claire Davis, whose 13-year-old son Jamie Revell is in Year 8 at the school, says he is constantly worriying about forgetting something in case he falls foul of the rules.

She said: “Apparently they get lined up every day for a uniform inspection, which is petty and strict - it’s not a military school.

“Jamie keeps saying ‘I don’t want to forget this, I don’t want to be put in isolation’.”

Another mum with a daughter at the school, who has asked not to be named, has criticised the new rules for “adding extra stress”.

She said: “My daughter feels like she is in prison when going to school now. I fail to see how this will encourage learning.”

Dr Speller has defended the regulations, which he says are not unreasonable.

“At the Abbey School we have high standards,” he said. “We expect that students arrive at school in the correct uniform and we expect them to come to lessons with the correct equipment to take part; this includes their pencil case and student planner.

“We ask that students line up quietly outside their lessons, go to their allocated tables when invited and sit down when asked. At the end of lessons we ask that students hand their books to the end of the row, then invite them to stand behind their chairs, then exit the room in a calm and orderly manner.

"My daughter feels like she is in prison when going to school now..."

“Similar expectations exist in many other secondary schools.

“We aim for a calm and orderly school environment where students’ learning should never be disrupted.

“We ask our students to sit up in lessons, pay attention, answer with hands-up and show respect through silence when the teacher is talking.

“These might be regarded as traditional values but are essential for effective teaching and learning.”

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