School that called kids ‘detainees’ says discipline pays off after GCSE success soars

Waterside Academy in Kingsland Road – then called Hackney New School – was taken over by the Community Schools Trust (CST) in 2019 after being shut by Ofsted for being unsafe.

At the time behaviour was described as being at “rock bottom”, and GCSE results were among the worst in the country.

The school brought in headteacher Barry Smith to improve standards.

But it was blasted by former teachers for new rules, under which up to 80 children a day received detentions.

It was the subject of an ITV investigation, which reported emails sent by Mr Smith calling pupils “detainees” when handing out detentions.

The report stated more than 7,500 detentions were given out between the start of 2021 and May that year, averaging at around 80 per day.

The Community Schools Trust, which manages the site, defended most of the strict acts, saying that it had inherited a “broken school” and aimed to improve the behaviour of pupils.

Waterside Academy now says the tougher measures paid off, with the school scoring among the best GCSE progress in the country in new Department for Education data.

Just four years later the school is now rated ‘good’ by Ofsted – the watchdog’s second-highest rating.

Some of the changes included teachers going door to door with the school bus to make sure youngsters did not miss their exams. 

Compulsory before and after school revision lessons were held as well as exam skills sessions during weekends and holidays.

Year 11 students arrived at the school at 7.30am for revision sessions and were held back after school until 4.30pm every day, and during Christmas, Easter and half term breaks. 

Some 58.6% of students at Waterside Academy are classed as disadvantaged, meaning they are eligible for free school meals. 

That is nearly three times the national average, which stands at 23.8%, according to government stats. 

Yet the statistics released this month show exam progress scores at Waterside are higher than at many grammar and private schools in the most affluent parts of the country, with poorer kids outperforming their more affluent peers in every subject.

Its progress 8 score, which measures pupils’ progress over a five-year period, was this year plus 0.76 – significantly above the national average of 0.

Mr Bray said: “There was never any shortage of intelligence and ambition at this school, there was just a lack of good teaching and leadership. 

“My predecessor very quickly put strategies in place to get the behaviour under control. Once the children understood the rules and boundaries, we started working on the academics. 

“We have just had our results verified and we are completely over the moon. A progress score of 0.76 is a huge achievement at any school. 

“To have transformed a failing school in four years, for nearly two of which the children were out of school during the pandemic, is nothing short of miraculous. 

“I am proud of the students and incredibly grateful to our hardworking and dedicated teachers who sacrifice their own time to help our students.”

Trust CEO Simon Elliott said: “When we arrived at this school the students had been badly let down. There was no structure and discipline, the children were in charge. 

“We introduced a new behaviour rules which was not at first universally popular with a staff, students and families. 

“That has shifted considerably in the past four years, with mums and dads regularly getting in touch to thank us for helping their children take the next step. 

“The vast majority of our families cannot afford an expensive private tutor to help students with their GCSEs so we provide it for them for free. Not just at this school but at all six of all schools. 

“Our teachers came in at holidays, half term, gave up their weekends. We have left nothing to chance. After all that work, we are not going to accept that some students just won’t turn up.”