Row over school’s searches continues

HALTON Borough Council has hit back over a parent’s claims pupils are being searched every day at The Grange School in Runcorn.

Last week the Weekly News reported that an angry parent who called himself David Jones had slammed the school over what he alleged were excessive searches in which children have to removed their blazers and have the bags and pockets checked.

A Halton Council spokesman said the school’s secondary phase had introduced ‘positive differences’ so children can learn in an uninterrupted environment where behaviour standards are met.

He said these include making sure children have the correct uniform, equipment, no fizzy drinks and mobile phones in school.

The spokesman added that the changes and the ‘re-emphasis of existing rules’ had been met with the approval of the ‘ overwhelming majority of pupils and parents and approved by governors’ with the aim of boosting standards and pupil outcomes such as results.

He denied that pupils were being told to remove their coats and blazers for searches.

Seeking to clarify the situation, he said primary coats are taken off and placed over the right arm to allow a left arm to use a bannister on stairs inside school but said no searching of pockets or bags are taking place.

However, he said pupils of high school age are ‘voluntarily opening bags to show they have the right equipment and no fizzy drinks’.

The council spokesman said blazers should be worn at all times and that ‘no staff are routing or searching’.

He said a uniform pass is issued if there is a breach after a conversation with a parent and a solution is agreed, ‘as described in recent email’.

The spokesman added that attendance is being checked and ‘acted upon as per normal policy and routine’ and that if not in registration then they are with a member of staff while a phone call is being made to their parents or guardian at home.

The matter also sparked a mix of views on the Weekly News Facebook page, with many readers supporting the changes and some in opposition.

Debbie Stockton said: “Good on them, they have been told the school needs improving and they are doing what they can.

“I have been there dropping my little one off every morning and it has been well organised!”

Sally Austin said: “Well I’m sorry but I think it’s brilliant.”

Lynie Lou said: “I don’t understand the problem. Happens in our school, I thought it was normal.”

Among those on the other side of the debate were Ben Burrows, who said: “So a fizzy drink and a mobile phone is going to stop you learning?

“Whilst the school’s intentions are sound, I find this hilarious.

“Maybe The Grange should focus more on its teaching regime. Life’s full of distractions.”

Laura Gibbons said: “Maybe the school should focus less on the appearance and trivial items a pupil has and more on the education they provide being branded as needs improvement by Ofsted is probably too kind for the school.”

Kirsty Walker said: “Newspapers are very biased, some of the things they share are very untrue.

“That Ofsted report was last year, I can tell you the school has improved and made miraculous changes since then. Again, until you’ve been to the school yourself, you can’t say otherwise.” Barrie Jones was equally damning. He said: “I for one fully support the school on this matter.

“The only issue is that not all parents support these rules. And in addition, Widnes & Runcorn Weekly News, if this is the best story your reporters can come up with, maybe you need some new reporters as there are much more interesting things going on in the area than a school trying to enforce some rules so that they can focus on a child’s education.”