School searches pupils
A FUMING parent has accused The Grange School in Runcorn of telling pupils to remove their coats and blazers and stand in the cold while they are searched before entering.
David Jones, of Lyme Grove, slated the secondary as leaving students exposed to the elements while waiting to be checked en masse in the playground.
He added that pupils could be left at risk in event of fire also as the delays mean some youngsters are not marked on the register even when in attendance.
Mr Jones said this occurred with his eldest child, 15, on Wednesday morning, when his girlfriend received a call wrongly claiming the boy was not at school.
Speaking yesterday, he said he thought the crackdown related to pupil uniform.
Mr Jones, who has three children who attend the all-age through school, said parents received a letter detailing the reasons for the searches.
The two-page letter, seen by the Weekly News, is signed by headteacher Janette Vincent and says the ‘checks’ are part of a drive to ‘improve stand- ards and outcomes’.
It said that from Tuesday, April 18, school staff will meet and greet secondary pupils arriving in the morning, ‘through the main gates only’, and carry out ‘checks to ensure all children are ready to learn’.
The letter contains a list of standards targeted the reasons why.
It said children should come to school with the proper equipment, in full uniform, without fizzy drinks unless with the necessary medical permission and without any electronic devices, particularly mobile phones.
Mrs Vincent’s letter added that as part of the uniform check, ‘coats will be removed at the meet and greet area, unless raining’.
The Grange made national headlines in 2015 after a ban on Marie Curie daffodils and charity ribbons.
It was graded by schools watchdog Ofsted as ‘requires improvement’ last July.
According to a public parents group on Facebook, inspectors were due to return to The Grange on March 30.
Speaking yesterday, Mr Jones said: “They’re making them take their coats off before they’re in school.
“They then get given a pass.
“They get searched in front of everyone and have to put their blazers over their right arm.
“They’re going thorugh everything – pockets, bags, taking bands out their hair and ribbons and everything.
“It would be OK if they did it in a class.
“My 15-year-old was 45 minutes late. “It’s disgusting.” In her letter, Mrs Vincent said: “The behaviour of the vast majority of our learners across all phases of our school regardless of age or stage is excellent.
“There has been a considered effort to create more opportunities to reward these children and celebrate their success each term, which will continue and grow in years to come.”
It added: “In the interest of raising standards and improving outcomes; Senior Leaders will meet and greet all secondary learners in advance of the front gates and checks will take place to ensure that all children are ready to learn, before entering the building.”
The school was contacted for comment with enquiries redirected to Halton Borough Council.
The local authority was approached for comment.