Inspectors slam British primary school where there's no such thing as a naughty child and teachers are banned from raising their voices

A school which refuses to discipline misbehaving pupils saying there is no such thing as a naughty child has been handed the worst possible rating.

Then 355-pupil Barrowford Primary School has been told to improve or face action after it was branded 'inadequate' by Government inspectors.

The school has faced ridicule and condemnation after the head teacher ripped up the rule book and scrapped all punishments for bad pupils.

She also banned teachers from raising their voices insisted no child was ever to be considered naughty.

Traditional fixed times for playtime and lunch were also scrapped with the pupils deciding when they wanted to eat or have a break.

Instead of getting angry teachers were told to say: 'You have emptied my resilience bucket' and send misbehaving pupils to the 'nurture room' if their behaviour got out of control.

But last night the Lancashire school was handed a black mark by Ofsted school inspectors and warned it could put in 'special measures.'

Awarding the school the worst rating, Gill Jones, lead inspector said: 'Teaching is inadequate. Staff expectations of what pupils can achieve are not high enough. 'Behaviour requires improvement. In lessons, pupils do not always concentrate on what they are doing and are too easily distracted.

'The teaching of reading is ineffective. In some classes, the weaker readers read aloud too infrequently to an adult' and young children in reception 'are not prepared for the curriculum.'

Last night parents and campaign groups called for the resignation of head teacher, Rachel Tomlinson, whose controversial approach had led to the huge decline.

In 2012, the school - which is an Academy - was rated 'good' by Ofsted but in the latest report only 39 per cent of parents believed the school was doing enough to ensure the children were well behaved.

One parent said: 'She should resign. You can't experiment with childrens' futures, fail spectacularly and then keep your job. She should go.'

Another, with two boys at the school said: 'I teach my both my sons right from wrong when they are at home and I feel my hard work is being undone by the school.'  'If a pupil misbehaves, they are sent to a chill-out room where they play on iPads and Xboxes. That is just encouraging them to be naughty.'

A former parent, who did not want to be named, said: 'I took my child out of that school because of the sheer lack of structure, discipline, problem children and bullying.'

Chris McGovern of the Campaign For Real Education said the no-rules policy was an 'educational fantasy' that was a 'betrayal' of the children.  He said: 'A recipe of disaster is what it is. Children need boundaries, they need clarity and they need guidelines, and a free for all is almost destined to fail.

'This experiment education is really fashionable and schools shouldn't need Ofsted to tell them that this is damaging the children's education and future. That is unfair.

'The school should hang it's head in shame because it is betraying the children. I'm reassured to know that at least Ofsted has the integrity to make a statement and say this isn't working.'

Ms Tomlinson said she was very disappointed with the inadequate rating but was very positive and excited about the future. In a letter to parents she said: 'Throughout the summer, we have worked very hard to bring about continued positive change and we know that you will see this reflected in your children.'

Mrs Tomlinson, whose school motto is 'Love to learn, learn to love' said she had also bolstered the senior leadership team to make improvements.

One school policy states: 'A child is not to be defined as naughty. It should be explained to the child that they have made a wrong choice.'  When confronted by a misbehaving pupil they are told to avoid raising their voices and instead tell them they are 'wonderful' but their behaviour is 'mistaken.'

The school in the former mill town of Nelson also told pupils not to worry about their exam results, since tests could not capture all the qualities that made them each 'special and unique'.

Chairman of governors Doug Metcalfe, said: 'We were naturally very disappointed with the outcome and have spent the summer as a school and staff group making the changes and improvements highlighted. We have invited parents who have concerns to sit down with us one-to-one so we can talk through the changes we are making.'

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Vicious California correctness

WHEN a high school student saw a blind classmate being beaten up by a bully he knocked the attacker out with a single punch.

But while his actions have led to him being hailed as a “hero” by many his school has taken a different approach, kicking him off the football team, CBS Los Angeles reported.

The move by officials at Huntington Beach High School in California was branded “stupid” and “petty” by online commentators after video of the fight went viral on Youtube.

In the shocking 30-second clip — since removed from Youtube — a teen in a hat is seen raining down punches on a visually-impaired student while a crowd looks on.

The other student, namedby friends as Cody Pine, then appears from behind, landing a punch to the head of the bully, who is knocked to the ground.

The bully lies bleeding while the attacker, after checking on the well-being of the victim, turns back to him asking: “’You trying to jump a f***ing blind kid, bro? What the f*** is your problem?”

The bully was later arrested on suspicion of misdemeanour battery by Huntington Beach Police, who said in a statement that he and the victim “have a history of not getting along”.

The statement added that no arrest was expected for Cody.

Online commentators praised his actions.

Anthony Zampi said: “This is heroism simple and plain. He exhibited the exact characteristics that make a good citizen. When other people would rather FILM this event, in stepped in and saved his fellow classmate.”

Mike Hallen wrote: “The day you punish people who protect the helpless is the day you’ve lost humanity. Don’t be STUPID!”
Bully gets a taste of his own medicine

However, school officials saw it differently, kicking Cody off the football team because they said his behaviour breached their “zero-tolerance” policy on violence.

The school’s actions have led to an online petition to have the intervening student reinstated on the football team. The petition, whose goal is 13,000 signatures, has so far been signed by over 12,000 people.

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British universities ordered to ban campus hate preachers

David Cameron last night demanded universities clamp down on hate preachers on campus to ‘protect impressionable young minds’.

From Monday, colleges will for the first time have a legal duty to put in place specific policies to stop extremists radicalising students. They will also have to tackle gender segregation at events and do more to support students at risk of radicalisation.

The Government’s new Extremism Analysis Unit revealed that at least 70 events featuring hate speakers were held on campuses last year.

They involved speakers known to have promoted rhetoric that aims to undermine core British values of democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty and mutual respect and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs. The unit named and shamed the worst offenders – Queen Mary, King’s College, SOAS (the School of Oriental and African Studies) and Kingston – all universities in London.

Security officials also have concerns about the number of young people being radicalised and travelling to join Islamic State jihadis.

The Government has urged the National Union of Students to drop its opposition to the anti-radicalisation strategy, which critics have claimed will create a culture of suspicion at academic institutions and could restrict freedom of speech.

Mr Cameron called on universities to do more to ensure their institutions did not become breeding grounds for terror. ‘I said in July that tackling extremism will be the struggle of our generation; one which we will defeat if we work together,’ he said.

‘All public institutions have a role to play in rooting out and challenging extremism. It is not about oppressing free speech or stifling academic freedom; it is about making sure that radical views and ideas are not given the oxygen they need to flourish.

‘Schools, universities and colleges, more than anywhere else, have a duty to protect impressionable young minds and ensure that our young people are given every opportunity to reach their potential.

‘That is what our one nation government is focused on delivering.’

Updated guidance has been sent to universities and sixth-form colleges and will come into force on Monday. It requires establishments to ensure they have proper risk-assessment processes for speakers and ensure those espousing extremist views do not go unchallenged.

The guidance also sets out that institutions must ensure they have appropriate IT policies and staff training in place to recognise and respond to the signs of radicalisation. It follows the imposition of similar duties on councils, prisons, NHS trusts and schools in July.

Universities minister Jo Johnson has written to the NUS, saying it is ‘disappointing’ to see opposition to the programme and underlining their responsibilities. He said: ‘Universities represent an important arena for challenging extremist views. It is important there can be active challenge and debate on issues relating to counter terrorism.’

Nicola Dandridge, chief executive of Universities UK, said institutions already had procedures in place before external speakers are given the green light to address students.

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