A Catholic secondary school near Liverpool has suspended more than 200 pupils in approximately three weeks after implementing strict new disciplinary measures designed to improve behaviour standards.
Saint Edmund Arrowsmith Catholic Academy in Whiston handed out 99 suspensions in the first week of the new regime, followed by 67 in week two and 36 in week three. The dramatic crackdown comes after education watchdog Ofsted told the school it “requires improvement” following an inspection in April 2024.
Acting headteacher Clare McKenna defended the measures, stating that the “vast majority” of pupils had “embraced” the changes and attributing the high suspension rate to students “testing boundaries” under the new system.
Sharp Decline Already Evident
Despite the initially shocking numbers, McKenna told the Liverpool Echo that suspension rates were already falling dramatically. “This has led to a spike in the number of sanctions that have been given – but, just two weeks in, we are already seeing a significant drop (of about two-thirds) in things like short-term exclusions,” she said.
“We expect this trajectory to continue,” the acting headteacher added, suggesting the tough approach was already yielding results.
McKenna acknowledged that implementing the new behaviour policy had not been without controversy. “Inevitably, there are also some students who have pushed back and are testing the new boundaries of what is expected of them,” she explained.
Parents Express Concerns
The suspension blitz has provoked a mixed response from parents, with McKenna admitting there had been “some push back” from families. One father, who requested anonymity, told the Echo he felt the measures were “extreme” and claimed some pupils were now “anxious and worried about going to school.”
The concerns highlight the delicate balance schools must strike between maintaining discipline and ensuring pupils feel comfortable in their learning environment.
The academy, which has 725 pupils aged 11-16, has undergone significant upheaval in recent years, including changes to its leadership structure that remain unexplained.
Leadership Vacuum Continues
Adding to the school’s challenges, headteacher Lee Peachey and deputy head Anna Kenny disappeared from their roles last year and remain off-duty, despite still being listed on the school’s website. This has left Clare McKenna serving as acting headteacher during a critical period of reform.
The leadership vacuum comes at a particularly sensitive time as the school attempts to implement widespread changes following criticism from inspectors.
The school’s troubles are not new. It was previously known as Saint Edmund Arrowsmith Catholic High School until receiving a damning “inadequate” rating from Ofsted in 2019, which led to it being placed in special measures.
Academy Conversion and Continued Struggles
Following the 2019 inspection failure, the school joined the Pope Francis Catholic Multi Academy Trust and reopened as an academy in May 2021. The conversion was intended to provide a fresh start and additional support to address longstanding issues.
However, when Ofsted returned for the school’s first inspection as an academy in April 2024, inspectors found that whilst some improvements had been made, significant problems remained. The watchdog rated the school as “requires improvement” across all inspection areas.
The report acknowledged that the school had addressed a “legacy of weakness in the curriculum” but highlighted ongoing concerns about pupil behaviour and inconsistent teaching quality.
Behaviour Remains Key Challenge
Ofsted’s 2024 report painted a mixed picture of behaviour at the school. “Pupils’ behaviour during breaktimes and when moving between lessons is generally calm,” inspectors noted. “However, there remain a small minority of pupils who misbehave in lessons and do not follow the school’s behaviour policy.”
Crucially, inspectors found that this disruptive behaviour was affecting other students’ education. “Pupils told inspectors that their learning is disrupted in some of their lessons,” the report stated, underlining why behaviour management has become such a priority.
The inspection also revealed inconsistencies in how staff applied the behaviour policy, with some teachers struggling to maintain order in their classrooms.
Wider Educational Challenges
Beyond behaviour, the Ofsted report identified several other areas requiring improvement. These included inconsistent curriculum delivery, with pupils learning better in some subjects than others, and inadequate support for students with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).
The school has also struggled with attendance, particularly among disadvantaged pupils and those with SEND. Whilst overall attendance rates are beginning to improve, inspectors noted that some students still do not attend regularly enough to benefit fully from the curriculum.
Reading support has been identified as a priority, with the school implementing new strategies to help struggling readers improve their fluency and access the wider curriculum.
Statistical Context
According to the most recent data, only 23% of pupils at Saint Edmund Arrowsmith achieved grade 5 or above in both English and mathematics at GCSE level. The school’s Attainment 8 score stands at 31.4, significantly below the national average.
These academic outcomes underscore the challenges facing the school as it attempts to raise standards whilst managing behaviour issues. The school serves a diverse community, with 6% of students speaking English as an additional language and 1% having Education, Health and Care plans.
Looking Forward
The dramatic suspension figures at Saint Edmund Arrowsmith highlight the difficulties schools face when attempting rapid culture change. Whilst the acting headteacher remains confident that the tough approach will ultimately benefit students, the high number of exclusions raises questions about whether such drastic measures are sustainable or desirable.
The school’s experience may serve as a test case for other institutions considering similar crackdowns. If suspension rates continue to fall as McKenna predicts, it could vindicate the “short, sharp shock” approach to behaviour management.
However, critics worry about the impact on students’ mental health and educational continuity, particularly given that some pupils are reportedly becoming anxious about attending school. The challenge for Saint Edmund Arrowsmith will be maintaining improved behaviour standards whilst ensuring all pupils feel supported and included in the school community.
As the academy continues its improvement journey under the oversight of the Pope Francis Catholic Multi Academy Trust, all eyes will be on whether the current approach delivers lasting change or proves to be a temporary and potentially damaging overreaction to Ofsted’s criticisms.
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