A CARLISLE secondary school is facing possible legal action over its discipline regime after more than 800 people signed a petition calling for reforms.

Richard Rose Central Academy has been accused of operating a regime that involves pupils being placed in “isolation”, with some - including youngsters with diagnosed special needs - kept apart from classmates for hours at a time.

The school denies “isolating” pupils, describing what it does as “internal segregation”.

The crackdown is being supported by many parents, they say.

But a critical online petition, set up three days ago, had today been signed by almost 850 people, many of them parents.

The Change.org petition claims that the school’s new and tougher rules, introduced by the new principal, have made Richard Rose Central Academy more like a prison than a school.

“Parents and students have complained about this but have got nowhere,” says the document.

“We want to try and get the Principal Ceri Bacon to listen to us and remove the stupid rules."

The petitioner cites a ban on very short haircuts, restrictions on how children sit at desks, and a prohibition on walking around the academy in groups of more than four - something school bosses deny is a policy.

The comments posted from parents include:

* “I am deeply unhappy with the way the school is being run... There are so many ridiculous rules being introduced with no discussion with students or parents. The only kids who seem to enjoy it are the high attainers because their faces fit. The rest feel it’s becoming more like a prison as do I as a parent. I’m fully in support of this petition.”

* “My sister, whom I take care of, tells me what exactly is going on in the school, and in my opinion it’s not even a school anymore; it’s a youngsters’ prison. “ Petitioner.

* “The school has gone to pot. Stupid rules on hair. My daughter spent full day in isolation plus a hour after school due to the fact her pants where not trutex but in fact Marks & Spencers - but she was still smart... A child in isolation from 8.30am missing full day of school work: awful.” Kelly Spiers

* “The rules are an absolute joke. Kids don’t even want to go to school any more...scared in case they get pulled for having the wrong hair cut or uniform when all the stuff the kids are wearing is out of the uniform shop.” Nicola Irving.

* “These new rules are ridiculous. When my daughter told me about them I thought she was joking. Only being allowed two mins to get to the next class, cutting break and lunch time. My daughter is not drinking the whole day so she doesn’t need to go to the toilet. These rules need to be removed.”

Sharon Holliday.

* “I’m signing because those rules are absolutely stupid. Kids don’t enjoy going to school and are stressed out. It must feel more like prison than school.” Petitioner.

* “I’m disgusted at the polices and rules in place at this school that my step son attends...Children need to be encouraged at school and NOT suffocated by rules and regulations that serve no purpose. These new rules are detrimental to their overall learning experience and wellbeing.” Lisa Mitchell.

Among those protesting is mother-of-three Cheryl Price, 45, from Botcherby.

Two of her children - a boy aged 14, and a 12-year-old girl - have attention deficit hyperactivity disorder but that has not saved them from being subjected to internal exclusion, said Cheryl, who is being represented by a lawyer.

“Children are missing out on their education,” said Cheryl. “When they’re in isolation, they’re not allowed to get out of their chair or to speak.”

She said her children have been repeatedly excluded.

Her lawyer Dan Rosenberg, from the Simpson Millar law firm, who has done similar work with other parents, said: “The use of isolation as a means by which to control or punish children is concerning.

“Large numbers of children are having their education blighted by the widespread and extended use of this punishment, and in the case of my client’s children, it is starting to also have a detrimental impact on their mental health.”

If the school refuses to change the way it disciplines pupils it may be challenged through a judicial review, he said.

He suggested "isolation" was being used as an alternative to exclusion, which can only be applied a limited number of times to each pupil.

Mum-of-two Nicola Thompson, 37, from Newcastle Street, Carlisle, said her 14-year-old son was one of 53 pupils excluded on Wednesday - in his case for sitting in the dining hall in a group of more than four.

She said: :”They decided they were changing the rules on Wednesday and they were not allowed do sit in groups of more than four. Apparently, they think that’s intimidating. But they didn’t give any notice that the rules were changing. My son didn’t even say anything.

“They weren’t rowdy; they just weren’t moving. It’s the first time he’s been excluded.

“They’ve also banned them from walking around in groups of more than four. People are very upset by this.

“Some whose children weren’t excluded have told me how wrong they think it was.”

Derek Davies, United Learning’s Director of Northern Academies, defended the school’s discipline regime.

“Tackling low level disruptive behaviour is a priority in any good school,” he said.

“At the beginning of the academic year, schools across the country get criticised by a minority of parents and pupils for being seemingly stricter than in the past. But, as everyone involved in education knows, unless low level disruption is tackled it can have a huge impact on the ability of all pupils to learn in the classroom.

“Adherence to uniform, attendance, behaviour in corridors and the playground may seem trivial to some people, but they all contribute to the overall environment in a school and the ability of pupils – particularly younger ones who are new to a school – to learn.

“We do not believe in isolation and, at the beginning of term, a number of pupils who repeatedly breached the behaviour policy, have been placed in internal exclusion. These numbers are decreasing as the policy is implemented and the vast majority of students are behaving exactly as you expect in a good school.

“We don’t introduce these policies for the sake of it. We do so because, over time, they lead to a better run school where children are better prepared and able to learn.

“Whilst some parents have been vocal, many are very supportive of what we are doing and understand that this is being done to help all children in the school receive a better education”.

A spokesman said there is no prohibition on children talking in the dining room and pupils are not banned from walking around in groups of more than four.

Richard Rose Central Academy is run by United Learning. Derek Davies, its director of northern academies, defended the discipline policy.

“Tackling low level disruptive behaviour is a priority in any good school,” he said. “At the beginning of the academic year, schools across the country get criticised by a minority of parents and pupils for being seemingly stricter than in the past.

“But, as everyone involved in education knows, unless low level disruption is tackled it can have a huge impact on the ability of all pupils to learn in the classroom.

“Adherence to uniform, attendance, behaviour in corridors and the playground may seem trivial to some people, but they all contribute to the overall environment in a school and the ability of pupils – particularly younger ones who are new to a school – to learn.

“We do not believe in isolation and, at the beginning of term, a number of pupils who repeatedly breached the behaviour policy, have been placed in internal exclusion.”

Such exclusions were decreasing and most pupils were behaving as in any good school. Explaining the policies, he added: “They lead to a better run school where children are better prepared and able to learn.

“While some parents have been vocal, many are very supportive of what we are doing and understand this is being done to help all children in receive a better education”. A spokesman said there is no ban on walking in groups of more than four."

A spokesman for United learning disputed the claims that more than 50 pupils were this week internally excluded in one day.

He said: "Internal exclusion is commonplace in many schools across the country and means that pupils continue to receive a full education but, for the period of the exclusion, do not sit with and work alongside their usual class."