'Bullying' fears at new academy

Children staged protests against the merger before it took place

Parents of pupils at Medway's newest academy have threatened to remove their children six weeks after it opened amid claims about youngsters' behaviour.

Strood Academy was created after the Chapter and Temple schools merged.

Since then, families have raised concerns about claims of bullying and fights, and incidents involving knives.

However, Principal Richard Hart said he had not received any complaints about bullying and said parents should contact him on issues they may have.

Children staged protests against the merger before it took place, and during the first autumn term.

The academy, formerly a girls' school and a boys' school, is currently operating on two sites, with plans to move to one site by 2012.

She has been telling me people are coming to school with little flick-knives Cathy Roberts

One parent, Cathy Roberts, told BBC Radio Kent her daughter was frightened to go to school.

She said: "She has been telling me people are coming to school with little flick-knives and stuff, and I've told her to go and report it to a teacher if she knows someone that is with a flick-knife.

"I'm seriously considering taking my little girl out of school and finding another one that's appropriate for her."

Another mother, Deborah Smith, said: "They are saying things are got really bad in there, especially since the boys have joined.

"They actually want it to go back to just being a girls' school."

'Open door'

She added: "I can't explain what it's like out here picking the kids up, especially last week. [On] three separate nights there was an incident going on out here."

Mr Hart said the school was sensitive to bullying issues and wanted pupils and staff to feel safe and happy.

He said nearly 70% of parents attended an open evening last week, and gave positive feedback.

"I have an open-door policy and encourage staff, students and parents to let me know about any issues they have," he said.

"I've not received any complaints or concerns about bullying and would ask anyone who has any concerns to contact me as soon as possible so any issues can be resolved."