Reports of the controversial methods of "Britain's strictest headteacher" have divided readers.
Barry Smith was recently hired by King's Leadership Academy, Dingle, as a freelance consultant. But the ECHO reported this morning that students at the Liverpool high school staged a protest over the controversial methods of the recently appointed figure.
In his short time at the school Mr Smith has already sparked controversy and has been accused of making "sexist" and inappropriate comments towards students. Students at the school claimed to the ECHO Mr Smith held an assembly for all the girls in the mixed school and accused the students of having a "resting b**** face" and of "using tears to get their way".
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School bosses said these claims were investigated and proven to be unfounded. Shane Ierston, chief executive of the Great Schools Trust which runs the academy, said: "Over the last six weeks, areas for improvement have been identified and successfully implemented by the senior leadership team.
"Unfortunately, this has led to unsubstantiated claims being made about aspects of the behaviour initiative. An investigation about comments allegedly made in an assembly, at which senior members of the academy’s management team were present, have proven to be unfounded."
Some pupils held a protest in the school this week and claimed many refused to go to class, instead congregating in large groups after lunch to express their concerns.
According to the pupils, the protest lasted around 30 minutes before staff arranged a chance for the students to directly raise their concerns with the school's leadership. School bosses suggested it was more like 10 minutes.
Reports of the protest and the alleged methods of Mr Smith have divided ECHO reader opinion. Some believed Mr Smith's methods were needed in improving the school.
Judith Wilson said: "You need heads like this to teach respect and discipline - some children lack these skills." Sarah Lou agreed as she added: "A fair few schools need this approach. Kids now don't give a toss about authority."
Bill Foster also said: "That attitude maybe shows why the little darlings need a tough headmaster. Kids at one time had respect for their elders. They were certainly taught to respect teachers, policemen, doctors, nurses. Nowadays it's the reverse. Older people, teachers, police all expected to show respect to kids."
But others disagreed with the alleged methods. Allan Hore said: "For anyone to be able to turn around a troublesome school with military sergeant major style tactics, has no chance.."
Gary Armstrong added: "I'm sure the school has issues. There's a reason why we don't have those kind of regimes anymore though. They just don't work."
A parent of a student at the school voiced their own concerns at Mr Smith's conduct. She said: "I think he is trying to make it into a sort of military prep school and it isn't that, it's a state school."
She added: "He wants the kids to show respect but he isn't showing them respect. The kids were happy going to school before he came along and now they are protesting."
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