As parents and pupils of King Edward VII School (KES) we are concerned about the new conduct policy. We believe that:

1. There has been insufficient consultation with parents and pupils;

2. The use of isolation as a punishment for failing to have a planner on more than one occasion is disproportionate: isolation is a punishment which should be reserved for serious breaches of discipline;

3. The emphasis on outward displays of obedience – such as standing until told to sit by the teacher – represents a marked and sudden shift in the culture of the school, which has previously rested on mutual respect between staff and pupils, and not a hierarchical one.

We ask that:

There be full consultation with pupils, parents, and staff (for example through questionnaires made available on-line and through hard copies) about the policy before the beginning of the next academic year;

As part of this consultation, the school’s governing body share with parents (i) information about the disciplinary issues that they need to resolve (i.e. what the disciplinary issues are, and the scale of the problem), and (ii) evidence of the successful use of this type of policy in ameliorating these disciplinary issues.

Thank you for listening to our concerns. We have all (parents and children) chosen KES for its ethos and value the way that, hitherto, it has successfully worked collaboratively with parents. We are concerned that both the ethos and the successful co-operation with parents have been put at risk with the introduction of these measure. We wish to work with the school to amend this so the school can continue to provide an excellent, rounded education.