Southend parents protest against silent transition rules

Southend parents protest against silent transition rules

A parent has threatened to remove his son from Southchurch High School in Southend-on-Sea after the head teacher implemented hour-long detentions for students caught speaking in corridors during transition periods. The new policy, referred to as silent transitions, was put into effect on Wednesday. This decision has sparked backlash from parents and students, with an online petition garnering over 500 signatures in protest.

The father, identified as Lee, expressed concerns that his son, who is already battling depression and anxiety, would be negatively impacted by the strict rule. He mentioned that the inability to communicate with peers between classes could severely affect his son’s well-being. Another parent, Stuart, criticized the school’s approach, stating that the punishments handed out for minor infractions were disproportionate and unnecessary.

In response to the criticism, the head teacher, Tracy Airoll, defended the silent transitions policy by stating that it had been successful in other schools under the academy trust. The school also outlined other offenses that could result in the same-day detention, such as not having the correct stationery, wearing incorrect uniform, or failing to complete assigned homework. Despite the backlash, some parents and teachers have praised the new policy, claiming that it has improved student behavior and punctuality.

Parent Abbey Riley created a petition calling for a re-evaluation of the school’s disciplinary measures, citing detentions for trivial reasons like losing a pen or talking in corridors. The petition quickly gained traction, surpassing 500 signatures within a day. Additionally, a survey conducted by Teacher Tapp revealed that a small percentage of teachers in the East of England reported enforcing silent corridor rules, with a higher percentage in London. GrĂ¡inne Hallahan, head of community at Teacher Tapp, emphasized the importance of managing students in an organized manner within large school buildings, especially during the ongoing pandemic

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