A NEW headteacher has suspended 25 pupils for minor offences such as zipping up a bag “too loudly” and “staring out of a classroom window”.
Dan Jeffries, interim principal at Frome Community College in Somerset, dished out the suspensions just days into term, saying in a statement his priority is “ensuring every pupil receives a disruption-free education”.
Dan Jeffries, the new Interim Principal at Frome Community College, Somerset, said he stands by all 25 suspensions Credit: ITV
It has led to complaints from fuming parents over what they deem ‘overly strict’ rules Credit: Frome College
But furious parents have slammed the crackdown, branding the school “like a military base”.
Disgruntled mothers and fathers are claiming kids have been hauled up for the most minor of misdemeanours.
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One mum, Natalie Morris, claimed that her daughter was suspended in her first week for “nervously laughing”, reports the Daily Mail.
She told the outlet that her girl has special educational needs and additional sensory needs, and was simply overwhelmed by “strange faces” in a new environment.
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The strict rule enforcing took place at Frome Community College, Somerset Credit: Wikimedia Commons
Other pupils were said to have been suspended for offences including being a minute late to class.
One parent said the environment had taken a toll on pupils’ mental health, with one child reportedly hiding in the toilets to avoid trouble.
Ann-Marie Ramsey claims parents were being ignored, alleging kids were even being pulled up over hair and nail colour.
However, not all parents are against the new regime.
Mum Liz Halliwell welcomed the shake-up, saying she was glad to see rules being enforced “fair and consistent for everybody”.
While other comments on social media commend Mr Jeffries’ discipline, questioning why more schools don’t follow suit.
Ex-rugby union player Jeffries insisted the suspensions were not for uniform or lateness, but for repeated “defiance”.
He asserted that pupils needing to disrupt lessons four times under school policy before facing suspension.
In a statement, he said: “My first weeks have been fantastic, and the vast majority of our pupils, families, and staff have offered overwhelming support for this shared vision.
“While online rumors can create unnecessary worry, our door is always open.
“We strongly encourage any parent with questions, concerns, or feedback to contact the school directly so we can work together constructively.”
He also said the school holds “high expectations for behaviour, with these standards made to prepare young people for successful futures”, and pointed out it has received no formal complaints from parents.
Jeffries is the latest head to face backlash over zero-tolerance discipline, following in the footsteps of Serge Cefai.
Cefai was dubbed Britain’s “strictest” headteacher, for his no-nonsense approach against kids who used “mental health” as an excuse for laziness, at St Thomas the Apostle school in Peckham.
Headteacher Jon Richardson was also branded the ‘UK’s strictest’ after kicking a student out of Strood Academy in Kent for his haircut.
Both have been accused of running old-fashioned regimes, while supporters credit them for their high standards.
