A LARGE group of angry parents in Yate held a meeting to discuss their concerns with their children’s school and decide what their next steps would be.

After The Gazette reported the news of parents’ anger at enforced rules at Yate International Academy (YIA), following the appointment of new leadership roles, 17 parents came together to speak their minds and address issues about the leadership roles, curriculum and other problems.

The academy is facing controversy from parents who are appalled at the rules enforced in a special edition newsletter given to students, following the appointment of the new chief executive principal Beverley Martin of The Ridings’ Federation of Academies and academy principal of YIA and Paul Skipp, deputy principal of YIA.

The group met at Stanshawes Court, close to the academy on Wednesday, April 29 and numerous other issues were also debated across the room.

Topics varied from the “heavy handed” enforcement of 20 minute detentions given to students and students being sent home for “minor misdemeanours” to students being treated differently to those at Winterbourne International Academy.

The shuttle bus between the two academies was also discuss with parents complaining the service had proved to be unsatisfactory with it “consistently being late and on occasion not turning up at all leaving Yate students missing lessons or being stranded.”

Parent Sean Bidwell, 45, said: "I felt the meeting went quite well, obviously a better attendance would of been better. It covered a variety of concerns and issues which I feel the group will try to progress."

Parent Gill Armstrong-Abbott, said: “It was very clear that there are many parents who are very disturbed by the way the new leadership are behaving. Not just that the rules aren't being observed, but the severity of the punishments involved.

"The extreme detrimental effect that this was having on the students in both a mental capacity and the effect on their learning that the many changes in teachers and attitudes was not in favour of the students.

"It was strongly felt that the Federation were not working in favour of the students, rather it was being run like a business."

The Federation's head of of marketing and communications Rob Phillips said he would need to look further into the meeting but said some parents are now happier with the situation.

"I know the CEO Beverley Martin has met a number of parents who are much happier now," he said.

"The appearance of the minority of students who were not dressing in the right manner has improved greatly and the staff are benefitting from receiving additional support during lessons so they can focus on what they are there to do, i.e. teach.

"Obviously with the exam period imminent there is a large focus on ensuring all student receive the best support and any issues are addressed immediately so they can focus on their school work."

Mr Phillips added that he had not been made aware of the issues around the shuttle bus but would welcome contact about any problems from parents.

The parents are currently organising a meeting with the federation, while in the newsletter enforcing rules, parents are invited to give feedback about the changes at an afternoon tea with Ms Martin and other principals on May 19.