Anger as parents at Brighton Aldridge Community Academy complain of new rules

The introduction of new rules at BACA (Brighton Aldridge Community Academy) in Lewes Road, Brighton, have left parents angry as their children are being suspended or put in isolation for uniform and equipment violations. 

Some parents have now been banned from school grounds amid the row, though it was hoped that a meeting with the school yesterday afternoon could help resolve the issues parents have. 

In a letter sent to parents on March 2, they were told that students would not be allowed in mainstream lessons from Monday 7 if they did not have the correct uniform or equipment. 

Letter about new school rules sent to parents

This is enforced through mandatory “line ups” every morning and every lunch time, which are held outside on the playground. 

Children without the correct equipment or uniform are reportedly taken out of the line and put in reflection/ isolation.

Only black or blue coats are allowed to be worn at school. 

The letter details that the medical bay has been closed for any non-urgent issues “so that students can have the best opportunities to learn”. 

Three minutes of “movement” has also been scrapped, meaning that children are not allowed to go to the toilet in between lessons and must instead go straight to their next class. 

The rules have been introduced in the last two weeks by the school’s new interim headteacher, Stephanie Newman and have sparked widespread outrage among parents who have now created a Facebook group to air their concerns. 

The group sees dozens of posts a day and has nearly 200 members, many of whom claim to have brought their concerns to the school and governors.

One parent, who asked not to be named, told The Argus of the issues she has faced having three children at the school. 

She said: “It’s just getting worse and worse. This new headteacher has changed everything.

“My daughter was told that she can’t wear her black coat because it has fluffy rim on the hood, so I’m expected to buy her a new one, even though coats aren’t allowed inside school anyway. 

“The new rule that they have to line up every morning and lunchtime to be searched, they have their whole uniform checked, their pencil cases, and if they don’t have something like a rubber or a ruler, they get taken out the line and put in isolation because ‘they’re not equipped for the day’.

BACA school pupils, 2017

“My son, who is awaiting an autism diagnosis, went in with grey socks and they phoned me and I said he won’t wear black socks because they make his feet overheat. 

“They said that if I don’t come and bring him black socks then he will be sent home.” 

Another instance this parent described was when her son did not have a calculator for a mock GCSE exam and was put into isolation for the day. 

The week before he had the wrong year group’s colour tie on and his mother was told she had an hour to take him to the uniform shop and buy him the correct colour.

Two parents have come forward claiming that their children were sent home, and said that one was even suspended, for wearing white socks rather than black or blue. 

The father of a year 7 pupil, who asked to not be named, told The Argus that his son, who has autism, has come home crying this week due to the “stress” of the rules. 

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He said: “I am genuinely concerned about what the new rules are doing to the kids. 

“The teachers are all great and up until a week ago I had no issues with the school at all, but the ‘line ups’ and searches are just all too extreme.

“It is such a shame it has got to this point but something needs to change.” 

Harry Phillips, who has two children at the school, said: “When the kids are taken out of the ‘line ups’ for not having something the teachers put them in what they call ‘the line of shame’.

“That is likely to have a huge psychological impact on these children, being shamed in front of the entire school. 

“It’s a pure dictatorship. There’s no process of complaints, if you write to governors you don’t get a response. 

“They don’t want to hear from us, they set up these meetings at 3pm in the middle of the working day when parents can’t even come. 

“I’ve sent 35 emails to the school about staff and how they treat our children, none of them have been resolved.” 

Some of the parents went to the school on Tuesday and spoke with Ofsted inspectors who were carrying out a scheduled inspection about their concerns. 

A meeting was held yesterday at 3pm where parents were invited to discuss their concerns.

Several parents who had spoken with Ofsted received letters stating they are not allowed on school grounds due to “staff abuse” concerns.

A BACA spokeswoman said: “BACA is committed to delivering the highest standards of education and ensuring that students are prepared and ready for effective learning.
"We therefore expect all students to adhere to the school’s policies and the new ​Principal is taking reasonable steps to ensure students are doing so.

"Pupils are not sent home for minor infringements of equipment or uniform.

"We firmly believe that maintaining high standards of trust and confidence between parents and staff within the school family is vital to the success of our pupils.
"The ​Principal is proactively engaging with parents and carers and is meeting with them this afternoon to hear their views to ensure the best outcomes for our students, families, and the school community."