ONE of the strictest schools in Britain gives pupils detention for looking out the window and moving their pencil.
The Athena Learning Trust runs six in and , and has recently been forced to disband following allegations its discipline is too “oppressive”.
More than 500 children have left Athena schools to be home schooled Credit: BBC
In 2022, Athena took over Launceston College Credit: BBC
A BBC Panorama investigation found that some parents and students at Athena schools were unhappy with how strict the schools were.
At Athena schools, uniforms are inspected everyday, punctuality is strictly enforced and eyes must be focused on the teacher every time they talk.
The schools also have strict rules about when students can go to the toilet.
Around 6,500 pupils attend an Athena Learning Trust school in Devon and Cornwall, which says it’s trying to combat the historical educational disadvantage children in the south-west have faced.
Around 6,500 pupils attend an Athena Learning Trust school in Devon and Cornwall Credit: BBC
Children face strict rules on when they can go to the toilet Credit: BBC
In 2022, Athena took over Launceston College in Cornwall after Covid meant the school was struggling with enforcing children’s discipline.
Since then, the school’s grades for good maths and English have increased by five per cent, proof for some that this tough approach to learning works.
However, the tough rules, like keeping classrooms quiet, have meant music lessons are taught in near silence.
Estelle Pears, a former teacher at Launceston College said: “There’s discipline and there’s being oppressed.
Estelle Pears, a former teacherat Launceston College, said the school became ‘oppressive’ Credit: BBC
Tom Bennett, a government advisor on behaviour in schools in England, says a strict school model is about the safety inside schools Credit: BBC
It sounds dramatic but that’s what it became if you’re frightened of moving a pencil on a desk because you will get a sanction, if your eyes happen to flick out of the window for two minutes and you get a sanction.”
The says on average about 20 per cent of a school day in English is lost to bad behaviour.
Athena schools enforce discipline with a two-strike policy with one breach of the rules leading to a warning, a second breach resulting in a detention.
The Trust calls detentions reflections, and from September 2025 to March 2026 pupils at Launceston College were being put on reflection around 1,000 times a month.
In reflection rooms, children have to work in silence for two lessons and a break, with some told to wear noise-cancelling headphones.
Athena Learning Trust said reflection rooms are “supervised environments where students continue learning independently”.
The Trust denied having a two strikes policy and that the “vast majority of students spend little or no time in these spaces”.
More than half of secondary schools in use some kind of reflection room for detentions.
If the rules of reflection are broken, pupils can be suspended.
The Ilfracombe Academy in Devon was taken over by Athena almost three years ago and in that time suspensions have jumped to 1,000 a year – almost five times higher than the average in England.
The Trust told the that suspensions are reserved for “serious or repeated breaches of behaviour expectations”.
Tom Bennett, a government advisor on behaviour in schools in England spoke generally about strictness in schools and says a strict school model is about the safety inside schools.
He said it’s important to instil in children that you can’t be “rude or cruel” to others.
“The benefit for schools to have this high level of strictness is that students understand really quickly that ‘this is what I’m expected to do’.
“And the joy of it is that the more students realise that they’ve got expectations with boundaries, the quicker they get into the habit of just doing it.”
But some parents have grown concerned that their SEND children are getting stuck in a cycle of being put in reflection and suspension as their learning needs are not being met.
The Athena Learning Trust said SEND children “are not routinely sanctioned for behaviours associated with their needs”.
More than 500 children have left Athena schools to be home schooled and many parents have complained to the school – but because it is an academy trust, this makes the complaints process lengthy and difficult.
However, the head of the Athena Learning Trust resigned after numerous protests by parents and the trust is now planning to disband.
Athena Learning Trust told the BBC that their schools are committed to “calm, safe, and purposeful” learning environments.
It added: “Teaching approaches are evidence-informed and do not replace or limit creativity, and consistent classroom routines and structured high-quality teaching are to support all students.”
The Department for Education said the allegations about Athena are “serious and concerning”.
It is “taking robust action to make sure the trust improves” and Athena now “subject to enhanced monitoring” to ensure “it’s approach to pupil behaviour is reasonable and proportionate”.
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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