Cornish parents concerned over schools' disciplinary measures

Disciplinary measures at three academy trust schools have had a detrimental impact on pupils' education and mental health, parents have said. The secondary schools in Cornwall - Camborne Science and International Academy, Launceston College and Pool Academy - are run by Athena Learning Trust. Families cited restrictions on toilet use, children being removed from class for incorrect stationery and unmet additional needs, with one parent saying sending her child to school was like "putting her into a pack of lions". The trust insisted student wellbeing was important and that it aimed to provide an inclusive and calm environment so children received the education they deserved. A mother of one of the children affected said policies at the trust, which also runs three primary schools in Cornwall and three secondary schools in Devon, failed to accommodate her daughter's additional needs. "She gets accused of truancy because she walks away from a member of staff, not because she's trying to be rude but because she's dysregulated," she said. "We're just asking for some simple measures where, when she dysregulates, she can have five minutes quiet time. Unfortunately, this is not doable und

May 14, 2026 → May 14, 2026