A PETITION has been launched calling for a governmental review into pupil wellbeing and behaviour policies at Multi Academy Trusts across the country.

For a number of months, a Cornish academy trust has been in the spotlight, as parents, staff and students spoke out against its approach to teaching and discipline, with some even comparing sites to a prison.

Despite managing several schools, it was Launceston College for which Athena Learning Trust received most criticism.

One local Cornwall councillor said that he had heard stories of ‘heartbreak and struggle’ from those linked to the trust

Cllr Adrian Parsons (Altarnun and Stoke Climsland) said: “After the past few years of hearing stories of heartbreak and struggle slowly emerging regarding the way education was delivered within the Athena Multi-Academy Trust, there was only so much that people could take before the situation eventually imploded.

“Initially, it took the courage of the parents whose children were most affected to speak out. Their voices opened the door to the scrutiny that was so clearly needed.

“The stories I heard about the treatment of some children with SEND as well as the hours of education lost by some pupils through extended periods in reflection, will stay with me for a long time. This is an area where important lessons must be learned.”

The situation came to a head earlier this year, after the trust announced that it would be dissolving and its schools were set to transfer to an alternative trust in order ‘to ensure the best possible long-term outcomes for [the] schools and the communities they serve.’

However, for some, the situation has yet to be fully resolved and a new petition is hoping that more can be done to protect students from similar situations.

Established by Tatjana Balsdon, the petition is calling for the government to launch a review into resourcing and behaviour policies in Multi-Academy Trusts.

The petition explains: “We call on the government to launch a review into Multi Academy Trusts (MATs) to investigate pupil wellbeing and behaviour policies. We are deeply concerned by what we feel is a lack of accountability, with many trusts operating with little transparency and a non-functioning complaints procedure.

“We want the government to review behaviour policies and their impact on pupil wellbeing. The review should provide recommendations about ways to create a single, dedicated system that audits trust finances and recruitment to ensure funding prioritises qualified teachers over executive pay.”

Beyond this, the petition is also calling for local authorities to be more involved with these trusts - especially in rural areas.

It continues: “Finally, we believe the government should create a monitoring system to increase transparency and give parents, carers, and local authorities more involvement in key decisions to ensure inclusive education, especially in rural single-school areas.”

So far the petition has been signed by more than 270 times, though around 10,000 signatures would be required for the government to respond to its suggestions.

The petition can be found here.