PARENTS at a school once ranked among Britain's worst say it's more out of control than a "prison full of unruly inmates".
Teachers at Willenhall E-ACT Academy near Walsall, West Midlands, allegedly struggle to keep their classes in check.
The mixed secondary school for pupils aged 11 to 18 received a damning Ofsted report seven years ago.
Despite improvements in several areas – including personal development, leadership and grades – some think it's "worse than ever".
A mum-of-seven, whose 12-year-old daughter attends the school, said: "A lot of the staff can't deal with the children and turn a blind eye to bad behaviour.
"The bad kids get away with it and the good kids suffer.
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"Teachers do not have full control. It is worse than a prison with unruly inmates.
"Some of them are bullied by classmates and nothing is done.
"It’s had a bad reputation for years now and it’s worse than ever now. I'd say 75 per cent of the pupils are unruly.
"The school has definitely not improved."
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The once respected comprehensive is nestled in the corner of a vast housing estate.
In 2017, it was rated "inadequate" in every area in a damning watchdog report – making it one of the worst schools in the country.
It was plunged into special measures after inspectors highlighted a catalogue of issues, including sub-standard teaching, low attendance levels and poor pupil behaviour.
Many children reported they did not feel safe and officials were even pelted with food during their visit.
Months later, the school became infamous after a student took a photo of a sleeping teaching and posted it on social media.
The caption on Snapchat read: "And the teachers say it's the students' fault – welcome to Willenhall the place of sleeping teachers."
Roll on six years and some say there has been a turnaround in its reputation, with a "positive" new headteacher and a range of new extracurricular activities.
But others claim the academy has fared little better.
Its latest Ofsted report – conducted late last year – stated it still "requires improvement".
Teachers do not have full control. It is worse than a prison with unruly inmates.
Parents waiting to pick up their youngsters last week were keen to share their experiences of the struggling school, which has tried to implement strict new rules to combat bad behaviour.
Dismayed mum Sarah Edge, 48, whose 11-year-old son Reece started at Willenhall E-ACT in the autumn, said: "I've had enough. We've all had enough."
She said on the school's opening evening it was billed as a "wonderful" place to learn, but she quickly learned that's not the case.
"What a joke," Sarah, an Asda bakery assistant, said.
"Pupils have no respect and teachers talk to them like they are dirt on the floor. Reece is treated like garbage.
"He's bullied and they do nothing about it."
Reece told how he had been attacked by another student who threatened him with a stapler, swinging it around his head and repeatedly calling him names.
New rules to help put a stop to the disruption reportedly include no drinking in class and no chewing pens.
There is allegedly also a toilet ban, with pupils needing a pass to visit the bathroom or risk getting thrown in detention.
Reece said: "A few times I have been really desperate but told I can’t go unless I have a medical condition.
"I don't so I have nearly weed myself."
'GETTING WORSE'
Deby Smith, whose two daughters, aged 12 and 14, also attend the school, said: "It's gotten worse.
"Some girls on their menstrual cycles are not allowed to go to the loo without getting a pass first."
The 53-year-old healthcare assistant, whose son, 22, also attended the school, claims her youngest daughter was sent unwanted sexually explicit messages by a year seven boy.
"It was disturbing and very upsetting so I pulled her out of class," she added.
Deby claims she even had to buy a dash cam because kids kept "harassing" her and "jumping out in front of her car" while on the school run.
As well as mayhem and severe regulations, bullying is one of the major concerns for mums and dads at Willenhall E-ACT.
One parent said it got so bad at one point she kept her son, 12, home for two weeks.
"He has health and anxiety issues and bullying is a big issue but we've had not help from the school," they added.
Another went as far as to say the school had "chemically changed" her 15-year-old's brain.
"She is a different person since she has been there and it scares me," the mum-of-three, 35, added.
"Teachers disrespect the children and some kids treat the staff the same way with not one ounce of respect."
Her youngest son was allegedly hit with a bungee cord which has left him partially sighted.
While she admits this may have been an accident, she thinks incidents like that shouldn't be allowed to happen in the first place.
"I shouldn't be worrying about my kids while they're at school," she added.
The school, which is a specialist sports and science academy, is run by E-ACT, an independent sponsor which manages 24 academies across the UK.
It scores two out of five on Google reviews, with users warning: "The worst mistake I have ever made in my life was sending my daughter here."
Pupils have reportedly been gagged from speaking out about the poor standards in their classrooms.
In 2017, slideshow was allegedly shown to students in assembly warning they face "academy sanctions” if they do anything that brings the establishment into disrepute.
The latest Ofsted report, on December 13, concluded the school "requires improvement" in the quality of education it provides, as well as behaviour and general attitudes.
It was, however, marked "good" for personal development and leadership – and inspectors recognised academic standards had risen thanks to a new-found "stability and higher expectations".
On the school website, new headteacher Sarah Murcott says: "It has been an honour to move over to take Willenhall on its journey to good.
"I pride myself in bringing with me a relentless belief that 'everyone has the right to be the very best version of themselves' and that we all have the responsibility to make this happen."
Among those who think Ms Murcott has done a great job so far and the school is finally improving is a mum to a 15-year-old boy.
She said: "The staff are brilliant, from the cleaners to the headteacher, and it's not as bad as the picture painted.
"Teachers are helping with revision for GCSEs, they are approachable, and members of staff are doing their absolute best to get things sorted."
Pupils have no respect and teachers talk to them like they are dirt on the floor.
She added that when her two daughters, now aged 21 and 22, were pupils the school was in special measures but it now had "good points with exam results jumping up".
"Yes, there are still a few kids who get into trouble but it’s not nearly as bad as it was," she said.
Another mum, whose kids are in years 8 and 10, said their experience has been "completely positive".
"They access after school clubs most days and are in sports teams and have been in performing arts shows," she added.
"I'm saddened by people who continue to be derogatory about this school.
"It is clear to see that there has been massive improvements in recent years and the new head has been a hugely positive role in this change.
"My kids are safe, are achieving, are supported, and are happy.
"The recent Ofsted report shows how much the school has improved and we are certain this will continue."
A third mum, re-iterating positive views, added: "I do believe the leadership and behaviour is much better.
"The school has improved with better grades and lots of extra curriculum activities."
Mother-of-two Jess, who has a 15-year-old daughter and son, 13, enthused: "I’m totally happy with the school and have nothing negative to say.
"It has changed so much over the past couple of years.
"My son had a few issues as a new starter in the middle of a school year but they were resolved straight away.
"Some people are complaining it still has a bad reputation but I cannot fault it."
And Kay, whose son, 15, is a Willenhall pupil, added: "There has definitely been an improvement and everything is really positive."
A spokesperson for Willenhall E-ACT Academy said: "We take any concerns extremely seriously and encourage all parents and pupils to speak to staff so we can deal with these on an individual basis.
"In our recent Ofsted report, inspectors recognised that this is an improving school.
"They highlighted that senior staff have high expectations of pupils both academically and in terms of their behaviour.
"We are proud that the best attainment results in the school’s history were achieved in summer 2022."
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The latest figures, from December 2022, show eight per cent of non-association independent schools in England and three per cent of state-funded schools were judged as inadequate.
Almost 600, or 38 per cent were deemed to require improvement.
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