00:00 Parents, says Billsby School, say they are hopeful their concerns are finally being heard
00:06 after fierce, strict disciplinary measures were damaging their children's health.
00:13 What kind of complaints were you hearing?
00:17 It was interesting. I thought we'd had it difficult but I realised we hadn't when I
00:21 saw the other complaints. From your shoes being too shiny, to perhaps having a white
00:26 night tick on your sock and you having to change those socks or even potentially go
00:33 to the factory shop to buy new socks that day. It just was not reasonable.
00:40 We agree with discipline and as a group we agree with discipline if the children need
00:44 discipline and it has to be reasonable and proportional at all times.
00:49 Why did you start the discussion group for parents?
00:52 I started it because I thought we can't be the only parents going through this. I knew
00:57 our children weren't difficult at home, they weren't naughty children. I was so surprised
01:03 that it grew to 140 members within one or two weeks I think.
01:08 Now you had a public meeting in town on the back of that didn't you?
01:13 We did yeah and the discussion around that was do we write some complaint letters to
01:18 the school, perhaps to Ofsted and it was a chance for everyone to air their concerns
01:23 and read the letters before we published them and got them signed.
01:30 So 70 letters were sent off?
01:32 I think so yeah, I think it was either just over or just below 70 letters. 70 given to
01:37 the school, 70 sent to Ofsted and 70 to the governors.
01:42 Do you feel you're being listened to now?
01:45 It looks like there's some changes happening. As I look at the discussion group I'm not
01:49 seeing the same volume of traffic of people saying my child's been in BSU today or my
01:57 child's been chastised for uniform today. So I do think the weight of the group is helping.
02:05 The school has responded saying behaviour has improved and the number of suspensions
02:10 has fallen significantly.
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