Parent of SEN child speaks up against Camborne protest over 'strict' school rules
Pupils campaigned outside Camborne Science and International Academy over 'harsh' detentions over uniform, toilet breaks and pencil cases
Last updated 22nd Sep 2023
A parent of a child with special educational needs has fought back about 'inaccurate' claims against Camborne Science and International Academy.
Pupils gathered at the secondary school on Wednesday in a protest over 'strict' disciplinary measures.
Parents have been commenting on social media over 'harsh' rules about their children getting detention and/or 'reflection' over things such as not having a working pen, incorrect school uniform, toilet breaks or yawning.
The Mum - who wishes to remain anonymous - said it left her son "anxious" about going back to school. She told us: "It doesn't set good role models for our young people, for our future.
"It doesn't give them incentive to be civil and communicate which is what we should be encouraging them to do.
"I'm disappointed that was seen as acceptable behaviour by parents and a small minority of children but angry that the school have worked so hard, and this was the result."
She said she has a younger daughter who also has special educational needs, who they're considering home schooling, due to behaviour of some pupils.
"Seeing how some of the pupils have reacted recently, I don't know whether or not she would cope with that. I don't know the impact that will have on her already difficult sensory processing.
"We've only got three weeks left to put down her choices for secondary school."
Some parents have stood by the need for 'strict' school rules to change.
Chantel Turner, a Mum at the school, said: "I don't condone the shouting, the swearing, anything like that because it's not how you get your point across but on the other side of it, they've done it because they've been forced into it.
"They're not being listened to, people aren't paying attention"
Another Mum agreed that not enough is being done for the pupils mental health and supporting them:
"The school also has to take some form of responsibility for this poor behaviour. It's there rules, their sanctions that have pushed the kids this far in the first place."
On the day of the protest, the school said in a statement: "We can confirm that CSIA staff made the decision to call the police to our premises today to help manage a difficult and disappointing incident at the school initiated by a small number of students and their parents who deliberately intended to disrupt the smooth running of the school day.
"As always, our primary focus remains supporting the education, wellbeing and safety of our students and staff. Sadly, staff have received abuse from Parents and their children on a number of occasions and this behaviour cannot be tolerated.
We understand that there are strong feelings within the community and we are aware of a number of Facebook groups that have fuelled miscommunications and inaccuracies. We would like to reiterate that there has been no changes to school rules that would warrant this type of disruption..."