A pupil at Outwood Grange Academy in Wakefield was confined to an isolation booth for more than six months without respite. The stark revelation comes from a BBC File on 4 Investigates report, which reveals that 23 students spent over one-fifth of their school days in these booths during one academic year.
Former students at the academy describe being subjected to 'no excuses' behaviour policies that left them feeling humiliated and belittled. One former student, who wishes to remain anonymous, recounted being isolated 58 times in just one year, often for an entire day, with no work provided or trivial tasks assigned.
Outwood Grange Academy's trust insists that students are only sent to isolation after multiple warnings, and claim the policy has improved behaviour. However, parents and former pupils have spoken out against the school's methods, citing instances of children being isolated for minor infractions such as untucked shirts or asking to use the toilet.
A potential judicial review in 2019 led to a change in policy, but concerns remain about the widespread use of isolation rooms. Education consultants The Key Group found that 18% of students in hundreds of secondary schools using this practice were isolated at least once annually, sparking fears that some children are being unfairly targeted.
This situation echoes broader concerns about zero-tolerance approaches in education, with a safeguarding review last year highlighting routine humiliation and control as leading to psychological harm for some pupils. The issue has sparked calls for reform within the sector, with one trust considering transferring its schools due to parental criticism of its discipline policy.