Parents have slammed a school’s ‘prison-like’ detention policy and say they will defy orders to send their children in for punishment on weekends.
Towers School in Ashford, Kent, has been criticised for the ‘ridiculous’ policy of demanding children come in to school on Saturdays for detention.
Headteacher Richard Billings said its detention policy is meant to sustain a ‘focused, calm environment’ for children and minimise disruption at the school.
But parents hit out at the policy, saying weekends are for ‘family time’ and ‘teachers are there to teach, not to instill discipline.’
One mother said she would refuse to send her children in on a Saturday if they ever received the detention.
Headteacher Richard Billings said its detention policy is meant to sustain a ‘focused, calm environment’ for children and minimise disruption at the school
Towers School in Ashford, Kent, has been criticised for the ‘ridiculous’ policy of demanding children come in to school on Saturdays for detention
Under the school’s disciplinary policies, if a pupil is removed from class during periods one to four, they will attend a one-hour detention from 3:15pm to 4:15pm on the same day.
If a pupil is removed from class during period five, the detention will be served the following day.
However, if a child is given a ‘reset’ – which is when they are sent out of class until they are ready to return – four times in one week, they will be required to attend detention on Saturday.
These run from 9am to 10am and are overseen by senior leadership.
Leanne Kirkin, 32, who has two children at Towers School, said: ‘The policy is ridiculous.
‘I would not send my children in if they ever receive a Saturday detention. Weekends are for family time and for children to rest after their week at school.
‘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 own time.’
Responding to the policy online, Jimbo Kirk remarked that Towers is ‘a school not a prison’ as he argued that parents, not teachers, should be responsible for reprimanding children.
He explained: ‘All of my kids are now very successful adults and that did not come about by them being given sanctions by the school.
‘If kids mess about, schools should notify parents to let them discipline the kids.
‘Teachers are there to teach, not to instill discipline.
‘Many times we have told kids not to go to detention and to come straight home. We the parents will decide what happens to our kids, not bloody teaching staff.’
One mother said she would refuse to send her children in on a Saturday if they ever received the detention because weekends are ‘family time’. Pictured: Towers School
Anna Tsarvouli added that staff should ‘check the reasons why a child has been given four resets’, adding: ‘I find it very hypocritical and this attitude towards teenagers doesn’t teach them anything.’
Meanwhile, Daniel Ambler said he would not let his children attend a weekend detention as ‘it is family time’.
Linzi Nutley however suggested that the punishment was appropriate. She said: ‘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 echoed these thoughts, writing: ‘It takes four or more resets to get a Saturday detention. [These children] obviously need some discipline.’
In response to the backlash, Towers headteacher Mr Billings said in a statement: ‘As a school, we fundamentally believe that every student has the right to learn in a disruption-free environment.
‘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.’
In the email sent out to parents last week, the school stressed that its ethos on behaviour was ‘built on certainty and not severity.’
‘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.’
According to the Education Act 1997, detention outside of school hours is lawful even without parental consent.
Towers School’s move comes after Folkstone Academy, also based in Kent, announced plans to introduce Saturday detentions back in 2020.
The rule, designed to boost attendance, also attracted a largely negative reaction from many parents.