Secondary school lost one in six of its year seven to nine pupils, after introducing hardline behaviour policy
Falling numbers: Ark Alexandra's pupil roll data is subject to scrutiny. Image: iStock/Getty Images.
Ark Alexandra Academy in Hastings, East Sussex, has been subject of sustained controversy, including criticism from local MP and union. Now new statistics show scale of pupil departures.
A secondary school lost one in six pupils from its younger year groups following the introduction of a hardline behaviour policy, an investigation by Education Uncovered reveals today.
Ark Alexandra Academy, in Hastings, East Sussex, has seen what were its year groups seven to nine in 2023 shrink by 16 per cent as of January this year when they were in years nine to 11, newly-published Department for Education statistics show.
The stark change came after the arrival in September 2023 of new leadership at the school, which has faced intense controversy including criticism from the local MP about pupil departures feeding into large numbers of children being home educated in the town, while the National Education Union has described the academy as being run under an “authoritarian regime pushing out young people and demoralising staff” – though the trust running it says that the institution is thriving.
The new figures, which show net reductions in pupil numbers, so departures offset by any newly-arrived pupils, come with separate data, released through a Freedom of Information response, disclosing how Ark Alexandra lost around one in eight pupils through deregistration during 2023-24 alone.
Meanwhile, the mother of a year seven child with ADHD, autism and bowel problems who left the school last autumn after, she said, racking up three hours of detentions in his first 12 days at secondary, has told Education Uncovered of his rapid slide into anxiety over policies, such as on minor uniform infringements, which she said were needlessly strict. Another parent described the school under its current regime as a "hostile environment," which had left her children with longstanding anxiety.
Ark Schools said the school had improved rapidly over the past 18 months, and that it was “proud of the journey the school is on”.
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By Warwick Mansell for EDUCATION UNCOVERED
Published: 6 June 2025
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Another damaging environment thanks to the Bennett dogma.
This shows the urgency for a change in the headline "achievement" metrics of schools - we must move more to metrics alongside attainment around wellbeing, happiness. This is 'education' for the sake of league tables one that does not see children (parents) as having any agency and as something that is done TO children not with them.
A sad state of affairs but it's been the same since ARK took over - complete disregard for anything but the ARK mantra! They need to be held to account but they have the same moral standing as OFSTED, so let off everytime - disgusting how they treat teaching staff and children.