Pupils and parents at Cowes Enterprise College on the Isle of Wight have launched a petition after a series of new rules introduced at the start of term prompted complaints that the school felt "like a prison" and drew comparisons with the Netflix series Squid Game.
More than 500 signatories have backed the petition, which calls for a revision of the school's security and safeguarding provisions. The petition and multiple parent accounts describe measures including locked toilets during lesson time, staggered ten‑minute lunch slots by year group, escorts to and from the canteen and toilets, music played in corridors that pupils say sets a timed limit to reach the next lesson, and classroom entry procedures requiring students to stand single file on a marked line.
Parents and pupils described practical effects they say followed the changes. Several parents told reporters that some children were drinking less to avoid needing to use the toilet, that long queues formed at break and lunch, and that a number of pupils returned home in tears. One father said his son, who has autism and a bladder condition, had been coming home "sad, hungry, thirsty and crying" after facing long waits to access a supervised toilet area and being given only ten minutes to eat. Another parent said a child with cerebral palsy waited more than half an hour for an assigned helper to escort them to a toilet.
Parents said windows and doors had been covered so students could not see in or out, and that pupils were shown assemblies with footage of children worldwide who lack access to education and were told to be "grateful" for their schooling. Some described the environment as creating fear or distress for pupils with special educational needs, and suggested the changes could amount to discrimination against children with disabilities.
The Ormiston Academies Trust, which runs Cowes Enterprise College, said the measures were intended "to build on that commitment by creating an even calmer, safer environment that supports both well‑being and academic achievement." A spokesperson said many policies were introduced in response to feedback from parents, students and staff and that the trust was listening to concerns and would make "sensible refinements" where needed.
The trust also said the academy is "proud to be a high‑performing, inclusive school" and noted that the school received a "Good" rating at its most recent Ofsted inspection.
Parents said some measures were communicated in an email issued the day before the summer break, when they were told that toilet passes for pupils with special educational needs would be removed. Pupils returned last week to find the new regime in place, according to parent accounts and the petition. The petition text describes the changes as having been implemented "without consultation with students and parents" and argues they have induced anxiety, impeded health and wellbeing, and created an atmosphere of intimidation that is detrimental to learning.
Accounts published by parents and pupils include instances they say illustrate the impact of the rules. One parent reported that pupils were escorted to the canteen in year‑group cohorts and given ten minutes to order, collect and eat their food; some pupils who missed the allocated time were reportedly told to throw food away. Another parent said their child received a detention for eating in a non‑designated area after their ten‑minute slot had ended. Pupils also reported being made to stand outside in the rain while staff enforced entry procedures.
School leaders declined to comment on individual allegations but emphasised they were "listening carefully to feedback from parents, students and staff." The trust said it expected new approaches to take time to embed and that it would work closely with the school community to support students as the changes settle in.
Concerns raised by parents focus particularly on pupils with disabilities and neurodivergent conditions such as autism, ADHD, cerebral palsy and chronic bladder or bowel conditions. Campaigners and parents warned that delayed or escorted access to toilets can exacerbate health problems and anxiety, and said the changes had not been tailored for children who previously held medical passes.
The petition requests a review of the security and safeguarding rules, reinstatement or reasonable adjustment for pupils with medical needs, and consultation with students and parents before further changes are enacted. It argues the measures "contradict our health and wellbeing" and have had a "detrimental impact on the students."
The trust said it remains confident the changes will help ensure the school continues to be a place where children can thrive while acknowledging that some refinements may be required. It said the measures were part of a wider effort to maintain high standards and strengthen school culture but did not set out a timetable for any specific alterations.
Cowes Enterprise College is part of a broader national conversation about school behaviour policies and approaches to safeguarding and inclusion. Education leaders and campaigners regularly debate how to balance security and orderly conduct with access to basic needs and support for pupils with additional needs. The school and trust have indicated they will continue to engage with parents and staff about the newly introduced arrangements.