Mum’s Facebook page for concerned parents (From Echo)

Mum complains of bullying, fights and disruption at Cecil Jones College

2:00pm Thursday 30th September 2010 in News By Christine Sexton

A MUM at a school which was put into special measures has set up a Facebook page where she and other parents can share their concerns.

Cecil Jones School, in Eastern Avenue, Southend was put into special measures last November following a report by education watchdog Ofsted, which said the school was “failing to give its pupils an acceptable standard of education”.

Since then, the school has shown signs of improvement, with a 13 per cent increase in students gaining five or more A* to C grades at GCSE. But some parents say pupils are still too unruly and there needs to be more discipline.

The site was set up by the mother of a Year 7 student, who does not want to be identified.

She explained: “I think, from the small amount of time my child has spent at Cecil Jones, nothing has changed. Children walk the corridors disrupting lessons and throwing items into classrooms “I have set up a group on Facebook called 2010 Cecil Jones Year 7 Intake parents.

“I’m not out to attack Cecil Jones, but as parents we all need to share information and to keep our children safe.

“In the three weeks my child has been at the school there has been bullying, fights and children leaving their lesson to disrupt the lessons of others. Where are the simple things like hall monitors.”

Jane Theadom, Southend Council’s head of schools support and preventative services, feels the school is on the up.

She said : “There are noticeable improvements at Cecil Jones, and progress is continuing positively. This summer, there were strong individual and subject performances in A-Level and GCSE exams – the best result since 2007.

“Extra measures adopted over the summer are also paying off. The new uniform has proved a success with pupils and parents, and there is a tough new policy on not bringing mobiles into school.

“There is a successful new system where pupils are rewarded for good behaviour by winning points and gaining recognition.”

She added: “Attendance figures have improved since last year, and visitors have commented on how much more orderly the school is compared with last year.

“Parents are invited to make an appointment to see the headteacher, if they wish to discuss any issues at the school.”