Athena Learning Trust to dissolve after parents protest strict discipline at Cornwall schools

The Athena Learning Trust, which runs six secondary schools in Devon and Cornwall, faced intense criticism over its strict disciplinary policies, including limits on toilet visits and punitive sanctions for minor infractions. Parents and pupils described the regime as "authoritarian" and "cruel," with some students, such as 14‑year‑old Amelia, reporting health problems from avoiding the toilet.

Following a campaign that involved hundreds of families and two town‑hall meetings, the trust announced in July that it would disband and transfer its nine schools to other academy trusts. Trustees said they had "listened carefully to feedback" and recognised a "clear need for change." The BBC Panorama documentary "Britain’s Strictest Schools" aired on 3 August, featuring interviews with students, parents, former teachers and trust officials, and highlighted the broader national debate over zero‑tolerance policies.

Athena’s CEO Ben Parnell resigned in May, and the Department for Education is now working to find new sponsors for the schools. Approximately 6,500 pupils are directly affected, and more than 500 children have left the schools for home education in the past three years.