MELKSHAM Oak School has become embroiled in another round of complaints by parents, who say that the school is more concerned with uniform and discipline than academic progress. As a result, parents say that pupils are receiving multiple detentions for minor misdemeanors.
A Freedom of Information (FOI) request from Melksham News has found that the school handed out 5,976 detentions since last September.
In December, parents spoke to Melksham News about a ‘crisis’ at the town’s secondary school, with strong concerns about a lack of staff, resulting in cancelled lessons, children being given detentions for minor indiscretions and poor communication between the school and parents.
They said that due to staff shortages, classes of children were spending lesson-time in the hall or canteen and left with nothing to do. The FOI showed that between September last year and February, 124 periods (lessons) had merged classes in the school hall over 99 school days.
Trivial detentions
However, parents’ complaints have continued and Melksham News has received further contact from dozens of parents with concerns about SEND (special educational needs and disabilities) provision, the implementation of rules when dealing with SEND students, communication from the school, and the way in which standards are being upheld in school. Many parents have said their child has been excluded from school or given detentions for trivial reasons.
One parent said, “I feel like we have two sides to the school, the side the parents are given, which is very lovely about a school pulling together and staff working hard to improve the look and academics of the school. This is in direct opposition to what children experience every day. They get detentions for missing a ruler, uniform checks that seem close to military levels of inspection and lessons being just worksheets, given by a substitute teacher who has no knowledge of the subject.
“Given the school’s academic record, the absolute focus on uniform and discipline seems to be at odds to me with where the school should focus. I am not saying children do not need discipline, but the almost instant push towards detention and exclusion for even minor infractions is just absurd, as is the suggestion that jumpers must be worn to succeed academically.”
Zero communication
Another parent who has a daughter in Year 7 said, “Since attending Melksham Oak, we have had zero communication from anyone on her academic progress she is now halfway through year 7 and we have had no interim reports, no contact with any subject teachers. I literally have no idea how she’s progressed in any of her subjects since starting the school.
“I have emailed in my concerns to the school with no reply. I’m extremely worried about how behind she’s falling in her education already due to no fault of her own.”
The school is run by the White Horse Federation, alongside other primary, secondary and special schools in Swindon, Wiltshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire. Following the previous complaints, representatives from the trust have been a presence in the school, with five members of White Horse Federation staff now believed to be working at the school.
In response to the latest complaints, the White Horse Federation said, “We are committed to building a welcoming, inclusive and orderly learning environment in which all students can focus on their studies without disruption and thrive. This begins with a welcoming, safe and structured start to the day, in which students are greeted before lining up outside to be met by their tutors. This also provide an opportunity to do some quick checks to ensure students have the right uniform and equipment so that they are ready to learn. Through clear and consistent expectations and predictable routines, we make it easy for our students to do the right thing.
“As is common practice across our family of schools, members of our central education team are often present onsite throughout the day. These colleagues add capacity and support school improvement, which is one of the many benefits to being part of a group of schools with a common ethos and vision.
“We are committed to working in close partnership with our families and the wider community. We recognise that communication has been highlighted as an area for development, and we are taking tangible steps to improve this, including through ‘meet the senior team’ events and more opportunities for parent engagement. We would always encourage parents and carers to raise any concerns or worries with us directly so that we can address these – our doors are always open.”
The Melksham News FOI showed that the school had 1,021 days of staff absence between last September and January. The school also confirmed that 23 members of staff resigned last year, but 175 of 189 staff roles have now been filled.
Following the FOI request, a Melksham Oak Community School spokesperson said: “Our staff work very hard to support all our students’ education and to ensure students learn in a calm and supportive environment.
“We rarely use larger spaces for group teaching but on certain occasions, it has been necessary to merge classes temporarily.
“Like many schools across the country, we have faced increased levels of staff absence due to sickness this academic year, however we are on track to be fully staffed and have appropriate cover in place in case of sickness.
“The figures for detentions are inflated as if a student does not attend a detention, another detention is issued. We are confident that these are issued proportionately and in line with our policies.
“Building positive relationships with all our families is very important to us and we always welcome feedback from parents.”
