Dozens of parents have signed a petition calling for an academy to scrap a "ridiculous" detention policy.

More than 160 people have put their signature to a petition which calls for the "end of unnecessary detentions" at Future Academies Watford, formerly known as Francis Combe School.

According to the Change.org petition, detentions are being handed out at the academy for "insignificant and ridiculous reasons" like "forgetting to bring a tissue to school" or for "not having a plastic bag to put their mask in".

One parent, who did not want to be named, alleged she was aware of pupils being made to stay behind for "failing to bring in a certain coloured pen", or for "only having one pen instead of two".

The parent said concerns over the number of detentions being handed out runs back to the autumn term, when the school converted to an academy and became part of the Future Academies trust. 

They told the Observer: "These are daily detentions being handed out, which we are then hearing aren’t even taken seriously (by the pupils), therefore undermining the more serious reasons detentions are given.

"We were pre-warned by the academy about not having proper uniform or stationery and the kids were given a list. But they are kids. These lists go missing. It is over the top to get a detention for only having one black pen when they should have two for example. It is a lot for children to remember.

"We thought after lockdown just gone, the pupils would be eased in more gently. The children are coming home glum, they are not enjoying school."

Watford Observer:

The petition, aimed at the principal Deborah Warwick, who was appointed head at Francis Combe in 2014, states the academy should have a "clear warning system" and that detention should not be the "first resort" for "forgetfulness".

The petitioner concludes: "It’s understandable that many rules are in place to keep our kids safe in these uncertain times. However, keeping kids in a crammed room for an extra 20 minutes is surely counter-active to this. Please join us in signing this petition for a change in the punishment system."

The Future Academies trust was approached for comment.

The petition can be found here.