Pupils and parents at Cowes Enterprise College on the Isle of Wight have launched a petition and raised complaints after the school introduced a package of strict new rules at the start of term that critics say resemble a "prison‑like" regime.
The measures, introduced as the new school year began, include locked toilets that are opened only at break and lunch, escorted toilet access for most pupils, staggered ten‑minute lunch periods for year groups, limits on where students may sit or eat, the closure of some quiet spaces such as the library and computer rooms to general use, bans on flavoured drinks and a policy of standing single file on a marked line before entering buildings. Parents and pupils also say the school has covered windows and doors with paper so students cannot see in or out.
Several pupils compared the atmosphere to the Netflix series Squid Game, and a petition launched by parents calls on the school to revise its security and safeguarding rules. The petition, which had gathered more than 500 signatures, says the changes—"including the use of alarms/music, strict lunchtime and break rules, enforced toilet policies, and being escorted to lessons"—are having a detrimental effect on students’ health and wellbeing and were imposed without consultation.
Parents described practical impacts they say are resulting from the new rules. One father, identified as Lee, said his son, who has autism and a bladder condition, was coming home "sad, hungry, thirsty and crying," and had stopped drinking at school for fear of needing the toilet because escorts can take up to 20 minutes. Another parent said a child with cerebral palsy waited more than 30 minutes for an assigned "toilet buddy". Parents reported long queues at break and lunch, students being forced to discard food if they missed a tightly timed eating window, and at least one pupil receiving a detention after eating in what was described as a non‑designated area.
Parents also described pupils being made to stand in single file on a yellow line outside the building while a staff member ordered compliance; one account said a class was left standing in heavy rain for up to 15 minutes. Some families said children with neurodivergent needs were not prepared for the changes and that previous medical passes for quick access to toilets had been rescinded.
The school has also been accused by parents of showing assemblies that included footage of children around the world who struggle to access education, followed by exhortations to be "grateful" for the education received, a practice parents said left pupils distressed. Pupils additionally reported that music played through corridors between lessons is timed to force students to reach their next class before the music ends or face detention.
Parents framed their objections in strong terms, with some describing the measures as a breach of basic rights and, in one case, alleging disability discrimination. Petition language and parental statements said the policies had induced anxiety and were undermining students’ ability to learn.
The academy that runs the school, Ormiston Academies Trust, and Cowes Enterprise College defended the changes in a statement to parents and the press. The academy said the adjustments were introduced "to build on that commitment by creating an even calmer, safer environment that supports both well‑being and academic achievement." It said many policies were in response to feedback from parents, students and staff, that the school is "listening carefully to feedback," and that "where sensible refinements are needed, we will make them." The academy also told parents that some concerns were being "blown out of proportion."
Cowes Enterprise College was rated "Good" at its most recent Ofsted inspection. The trust said it remained confident the changes would help ensure the school continued to be a place where children can thrive and that it would work closely with the school community to support the transition.
Parents and pupils said they had expected consultation before such sweeping changes and called for an urgent review. The petition asks the school to reconsider its security and safeguarding policies and to consult with families and students about measures that affect health, welfare and access to essential facilities.
At the time of publication the school had said it would listen to feedback and make refinements where appropriate, and parents said they planned to meet school leaders to press for changes. The dispute follows the first week of the new term, when several pupils were reported to have returned home upset after experiencing the newly introduced rules.