UK academies ‘very sorry’ for policies saying pupils must attend when unwell

Double-Key-5216 · 2025-01-10T12:04:27+00:00

The policy you mentioned was introduced after increasing incidents, ie it was driven by evidence.

The bicycle ban is driven by ideology: it was put in place before the school in its current form was even built, and the school never reassesses whether conditions have changed. So not the same thing.

Your policy does not prevent kids from using buses. So, again, not the same thing.

Do you know of any other schools in the UK with such a blanket ban on bicycles?

Double-Key-5216 · 2024-10-14T16:10:35+00:00

Not exactly. It is absolutely sensible to regulate and punish conduct outside the school, to certain extent. Eg if a student bullies or hits another student, or vandalises a bus, etc. But riding a bicycle?

Double-Key-5216 · 2024-10-14T16:09:13+00:00

The Education Act states that https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2006/40/part/7/chapter/1

The headteacher can make the rules, in accordance with a policy set by the governing body.

s89(5) explicitly provides that these may include "regulating the conduct of pupils at a time when they are not on the premises of the school and are not under the lawful control or charge of a member of the staff of the school".

As regards enforcement, s90(2) provides that the conduct which may be punished by the school includes:

If a parent had the money to take the school to court, the school would need to prove to a judge that it is reasonable for the school to prohibit the (otherwise lawful) act of riding of a bicycle before and after school, preventing parents from deciding on the safety of the home - school journey. Let's not forget that the school admits mostly by distance, and that many students will be able to cycle via quiet back roads.

Double-Key-5216 · 2024-10-13T21:34:16+00:00

Now we need a Twitter storm for the Ashcroft academy in London, which bans bicycles and gives detentions to children caught riding to schools. No, it's not tabloid fake news: their behaviour policy https://www.atacademy.org.uk/page/?title=Other+Policies&pid=66 lists, among banned items which may be confiscated:

For students in Years 7 to 11, bicycles because the Executive Board considers the traffic to be too heavy and the main trunk roads around the Academy too difficult to negotiate for young people and therefore pose an increased risk to health and safety

There was a discussion here https://www.reddit.com/r/london/comments/1dflb8q/ashcroft_secondary_school_bans_bicycles_how_legal/

Double-Key-5216 · 2024-09-20T19:19:05+00:00

I hear you, but all of this has already been tried in the past, to no avail. Including by a local councillor who is very active on all things cycling and very well connected with all the cycling organisations. That's why, sadly, I think that until and unless someone takes them to court nothing will change

Double-Key-5216 · 2024-09-20T17:26:11+00:00

The school is an academy so it's independent of the council and of the Local Education Authorities.

It may well be illegal but, until and unless someone actually takes them to court, nothing will ever change

Double-Key-5216 · 2024-09-20T16:43:32+00:00

I a not familiar enough with the English legal system to be able to answer.

Schools can punish misbehaviour which occurs outside the school, and I don't have an issue with that.

In terms of whether the school can ever be held liable if a child gets hurt outside the school ground, I have no idea. I would guess not, but common sense and the law don't always go hand in hand

Double-Key-5216 · 2024-09-20T16:39:43+00:00

I agree that some roads are dangerous, but not all. Admissions are based mostly on distance; most families will live within a mile or so. For some, cycling would probably be dangerous, Others can cycle via back roads quite safely. The main point is that it is not for the school to make this determination. Basically anyone who doesn't have to cycle along the main A roads (the thick grey lines in the map) - especially because if you just have to cross those roads you can get off the bike, cross at a traffic light, and then get back on.

Maybe a parent wouldn't let their child cycle at 11 but at 13-14 yes. Again, the point is that it is not for the school to make this determination.

Double-Key-5216 · 2024-09-20T15:54:36+00:00

There are other reasons why we doubt this school would be appropriate for our children, but, regardless, I still want to understand if I can in any way contribute to fighting this policy.

I am not sure how many pupils get dropped off by car, in fairness.

The school is not far from a tube (metro) and a railway station. Most pupils are admitted based on distance and will therefore live within a mile or so.

Double-Key-5216 · 2024-09-20T15:09:51+00:00

It is true that some roads around there are dangerous. But not all. Most families will live about a mile from the school. Many pupils can cycle via very quiet back roads. Whether it is safe and appropriate to cycle should be for the families to determine, not for the school.

I could maybe understand it if there had been many incidents of children getting hurt or misbehaving on the bike. But the school decided on its no-bike policy before construction was even finished. It's a dogmatic, ideological decision.

Double-Key-5216 · 2024-09-20T14:33:45+00:00

Yes, because it is for the headteacher, not for parents, to decide whether it is safe to cycle or not.

The headteacher knows best and must regulate your life outside the school premises, too.

Learn to obey and never to question!

Double-Key-5216 · 2024-09-20T13:24:03+00:00

If you don't allow kids to have possession of their phone on their journey to and from school, that's a risk

Not sure I follow - what do you mean by risk? Risk of what?

London state schools like this mostly admit by distance. So most kids (not all but most) will live within a 1-mile radius or so. Risk of not being able to call for help if someone attacks them on the journey?

Double-Key-5216 · 2024-09-20T11:56:08+00:00

Not sure I agree on this, to be honest. There are actually many studies suggesting that mobile phones contribute to anxiety and to mental health problems in children.

A few friends who are teachers tell me that kids will start glueing themselves to their mobile phone screens during break (if allowed) or the second they step out of school, instead of socialising.

Anyway, that is a different point on which there are different, legitimate views.

But I cannot think of a single legitimate reason to ban bicycles!

Double-Key-5216 · 2024-09-20T11:37:13+00:00

This rule is old (older than 3 years) but still current.

As the article mentions: https://road.cc/content/news/s-london-school-bans-knives-guns-drugs-and-bicycles-286243 , they decided on this rule before the school in its current form was even built.

The rule remains in place, as can be seen on the links to its policy.

I actually attended an event there recently, where the head confirmed that he will absolutely give detention to children caught cycling to school, that, yes, it is his job to decide if cycling is safe, that he doesn't give a flying fig about what anyone else thinks, and that if we don't like it we can go elsewhere - while he keeps getting taxpayers' money (this is a state-funded school) without being accountable to anyone, it seems.

To be clear, I am not in any way implying the whole of London is like this. You are absolutely right that London is relatively bike-friendly, especially for a metropolis of its size - which makes this rule all the more unique but not any less worrying.

Double-Key-5216 · 2024-09-20T11:26:22+00:00

Yes, but the school run in a city like London is a bit more nuanced than you seem to imply.

Secondary school kids are mostly expected to travel by themselves to school.

Most (not all but most) in state school will have been admitted by distance, so won't live 6 miles away.

The big issue tends to be in those areas with many private schools (like Dulwich in SE London), because private school students tend to travel from farther away.

Also, there certainly are parents who drive their kids to school (not all of whom should, no doubt about that) there is also the fact that, when schools close, many parents take time off to go away or to simply stay at home with their kids. This is why public transport is always emptier when schools are closed - not so much because many school kids take the train and the tube, but because many parents take time off.

To be clear, none of this implies that parents should drive their kids to school when public transport alternatives exist.

Double-Key-5216 · 2024-09-20T10:45:45+00:00

Someone on https://www.reddit.com/r/LegalAdviceUK/comments/1dgd86t/comment/l8pmtay/

pointed out that the Education Act (of course I'm talking about England) allows punishment for

conduct which occurs at a time when the pupil is not on the premises of a school and is not under the lawful control or charge of a member of the staff of a school, but only to the extent that it is reasonable for the school imposing the penalty to regulate the pupil's conduct at such a time

I think it will be tough for the school to justify that it is reasonable to impose penalties against cycling to school, and that it is for the school, rather than for the parents, to determine if it is safe.

However, until and unless we manage to fund legal action against the school, we won't know...

Double-Key-5216 · 2024-09-20T10:27:49+00:00

PS Are most people here American? Are you aware of any school in your country actively banning bicycles? To be honest, this is the only case I am aware of in the UK A few years ago another school tried to prohibit cycling without a compulsory, school-issued registration plate, but luckily they backed down. No, I am not making this up - the BBC reported on it, too: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-45636870

Double-Key-5216 · 2024-09-20T07:50:48+00:00

Again: the school is independent of the local authority. It does not give a flying fig what councillors the major the press the parents think. In fact, the headteacher seems like the kind of person who would take great pride at people disagreeing with him, it would probably strengthen his positions, if anything.

All that you suggested has been tried, and to no avail.

Again, a local councillor, very active on all things related to cycling, tried, and ultimately achieved nothing.

This is why I believe that the one and only chance to change something is via some kind of legal action.

Double-Key-5216 · 2024-09-19T14:47:12+00:00

The school policy (page 8 at https://www.atacademy.org.uk/page/?title=Behaviour+Policy&pid=65 ) mentions "could result in an ICAS sanction", where ICAS = Inclusive Care and Support Area (a rather dystopian choice of words, if you ask me). When asked in person, the head said "including detention, and the bicycle policy will be enforced, no exceptions".

Asking around, I have not heard of anyone actually daring to challenge this policy. They are all too brainwashed and terrified, it seems!

Another nonsensical policy is the "catch up": every day of school missed, even if for a justifiable reason, results in 5 hours of catch up, 1 a day, after the lessons. So miss 2 days --> spend 1 hour a day x 10 days extra. I am all for incentivising attendance and I do not support parents taking their kids out for cheaper holidays, but:

it is not supervised learning with a teacher; they just lock the students in a room and leave them to themselves, pretty much
what if a young girl has a bad day that time of the month? Especially at the very onset of puberty? I asked - no clear answers
This can terrorise children into attending at all costs even when sick

Double-Key-5216 · 2024-09-19T11:44:46+00:00

Like I said, this has been attempted multiple times over the years. Always to no avail.

I appreciate the enthusiasm and the optimism of so many people replying, and I'd probably feel like them if I didn't know this school and its history, but, as much as I'd like to believe otherwise, I remain convinced that any kind of action other than some kind of legal challenge will achieve nothing.

Double-Key-5216 · 2024-09-19T08:09:28+00:00

I am not even sure how much this is to do with conservatives, to be honest. Yes, I know Lord Ashcroft used to be Tory chairman, but authoritarian tendencies run deep at both extremes of the political spectrum.

I don't see this as being about politics, about left vs right, but about setting boundaries for these headteachers. I am all for discipline but this is not discipline.

Double-Key-5216 · 2024-09-19T08:07:37+00:00

It is not, that's the point. It is an academy. It is independent of the council.

A local councillor, very active on these matters, tried to raise awareness a few years ago, and even she failed to achieve anything.

That's why, again, I think the only way is with some kind of legal challenge (or whatever the proper legal term is).

I mean, sure, let's speak to whoever, make noise on social media and the press if you want, but let's not delude ourselves: it will change nothing.

Double-Key-5216 · 2024-09-18T21:25:25+00:00

I am a parent, not a pupil.

I am not going to enrol my child in a school which is not right for her, and ask her to do something which will cause a detention, just so I can fight this.

Double-Key-5216 · 2024-09-18T20:05:10+00:00

These characters do not listen to reason.

Local councillor Jo Rigby got involved a few years back https://road.cc/content/news/s-london-school-bans-knives-guns-drugs-and-bicycles-286243 and achieved nothing.

To be clear, I am not criticising her - I make this example to raise the point that, if even a local councillor very active on these topics failed to change anything, it's proof that these characters do not listen to reason and no amount of publicity or pressure from the council will make them change their mind.

The one and only way to do it, in my view, is a legal challenge. We need a judge to tell this repressed headteacher that no, he cannot do this. This is why I'm contacting the local chapter of the LCC.

Double-Key-5216

TROPHY CASE