“When you’ve got young people...learning that silence is my default, the implication that can have for them as they grow into young adults is really concerning” Teacher warns of risk of focus on “blind compliance,” in academy trust they are leaving

The "Astrea ascent" behaviour poster, which features in the trust's classrooms

A teacher who is joining an exodus of staff from an academy with an uncompromising focus on pupil discipline and uniform has warned that its policies risk damaging pupil mental health, undermining safeguarding and leaving school leavers unprepared for exploitative bosses in the workplace.

The staff member was speaking as multiple sources warned that Longsands Academy, in St Neots, Cambridgeshire, is losing nine teachers this week – some eight per cent of its teaching workforce – as controversy about the multi-academy trust running it, Astrea, continues.

The teacher, who has worked at the 1,700-pupil comprehensive for several years, gave detailed insights into behaviour management and teaching policies under Astrea at Longsands, as former staff members warned that children are suffering under the regime, although one stated that senior management were “trying to do their best for the kids,” and there was an indication of some softening in its approach in a letter to parents this month.

In adverts for new staff at the school, Astrea has described its approach to behaviour management and teaching as “disciplined and joyful”.