Isle of Wight school protest over 'prison-like' rules prompts petition

Hundreds of pupils and parents at Cowes Enterprise College on the Isle of Wight are voicing a protest over new school policies they describe as prison-like and intimidating, following changes introduced at the start of the term. A petition circulating among families has drawn more than 600 signatures, urging administrators to revise the rules and address concerns about wellbeing and dignity. Supporters say the measures have created anxiety and distress, while the school says the changes aim to create a calmer, safer learning environment and reflect feedback from staff and families.

The measures cited by students and parents include the use of alarms and a slowed-down version of the Bake Off theme between lessons, strict rules around lunchtime and breaks, enforced toilet policies, and escorts to lessons. Officials and supporters say the policies were designed to improve behaviour and safety, but critics contend they were implemented without meaningful consultation with students and parents. A pupil told the Daily Mail that assemblies were used to press home the idea that students should feel grateful for their education, describing the approach as gaslighting. “They told us we should be grateful and that our parents were overreacting,” the student said. The petition argues the changes contradict health and wellbeing guidelines and disrupt daily routines that are essential for learning.

A number of accounts detail how the new regime has affected basic needs. Some students report being denied adequate time to eat, drink, or access toilets during limited breaks, with instances described where a meal or a restroom visit was cut short. One student recalled a detention being issued during lunch time for failing to complete the transition quickly enough, resulting in lost lunch time. Others described feeling unable to eat or drink enough due to shortened breaks and rigid movement restrictions. A parent described the toilet policy as degrading and inhumane, saying a child was forced to endure discomfort because no escort was available, and that girls on their period were required to obtain permission from male teachers before being chaperoned. The same parent noted several children queued for the toilet during lunch, only to have their time cut short and their food taken away.

Descriptions from families also include restrictions on movement and social interaction during breaks. Some pupils report being restricted from running in a courtyard, with limits placed on group sizes and a directive to remain quiet, a setup described by parents as reminiscent of previous COVID-era measures. One mother said her child, excited to start at the school after an open day, now faces anxiety and stress, and another described watching their daughter and her friend discuss worries about the toilet rules and coping strategies during school hours. Several parents expressed concern that the school’s approach amounts to collective punishment, arguing that misbehavior by a minority should be addressed directly with those individuals rather than imposing broad restrictions on all pupils.

Ormiston Academies Trust, which manages Cowes Enterprise College, has defended the changes as part of an effort to foster a calmer environment and reduce disruption. A spokesperson said the school understands that new approaches take time to embed and that feedback is being listened to, with refinements planned where appropriate. “Where sensible refinements are needed, we will make them,” the statement read. Still, many parents say they have received little direct engagement: meetings or responses to letters have been sparse, and some describe feeling shut out from the process.

The school has acknowledged there are inaccuracies in some of the public allegations, while reiterating that the changes were intended to support learning and wellbeing. Parents have urged an urgent policy review and meaningful consultation with families and students, with some considering whether to move their children to alternative arrangements. Critics argue that blanket policies risk harming the broader student body by creating an environment of fear and anxiety rather than support and safety. Supporters emphasize the need for transparent, two-way communication to reconcile safety goals with the fundamental rights of students to a respectful and dignified school experience.

The situation at Cowes Enterprise College highlights ongoing tensions in UK education over how best to balance safety, discipline, and student wellbeing. As the term progresses, stakeholders on the Isle of Wight are awaiting further dialogue and a timetable for revisiting the controversial policies, with families hoping for revisions that reflect their concerns while preserving a constructive learning environment.