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Hundreds of angry parents have slammed new “draconian” rules created at their children’s school which they say have left pupils in tears.

They claim children have been sent to quiet rooms for infractions such as speaking, coughing, asking for water and foregtting equipment.

The punishments were introduced at Bideford College in Devon by the CEO of Athena Learning Trust, Ben Parnell, when he joined this September.

Parents are so outraged that a Facebook group has been set up entitled “Bideford College complaints and issues”, reports Devon Live.

A petition has also been launched on Change.org by parent, Anthony Spencer, calling for a review of the school’s new policies.

The petition has already been signed by almost 500 parents.

It says: “All children are being collectively punished. The environment that has been created is extremely harmful to their education and wellbeing.”

When approached for a response to the concerns raised by parents, Mr Parnell said: “Our expectation is that all students and staff follow the school policies and procedures and Bideford College offers support to all parents and students to do this.

“Student’s safety and well-being are the school’s top priority and if any students or parents have any concerns they should contact the school directly.”

One parent, Keeleigh Mellor, claimed her daughter had been “denied her basic human rights” after a teacher removed her dinner.

Keeleigh said: “They took my daughter’s dinner, actual food, away from her last week as a punishment because she refused to go in reflection for asking a fellow student where specific equipment was needed for that lesson.”

Keeleigh, whoclaims her daughter has not been to school since, said: “Not on this earth would I take my child’s food away as a punishment. It’s so wrong.”

Another parent claimed her son was punished “for having a drink of water during the break in a double lesson”.

Parent, Fleur Phillips, also contacted the school to express her concern.

She said: “Although I understand discipline is important, the new rules are most definitely going a step too far.

“Children being given warnings for not sitting up straight or being sent to ‘reflection’ for not making eye contact or turning around in their seat is, I believe, too harsh.”

She added: “The most worrying thing is the seeming lack of any thought for our children’s wellbeing, how this Draconian approach is affecting their mental health.

“There is no longer designated tutor time where a tutor can get to know a pupil and vice versa, vitally important in a child’s sense of security within school.”

Another parent, who wanted to remain anonymous, said her children had asked to be home-schooled following the introduction of the new measures.

Scores of parents have taken to the Facebook group to express their concern over the new rules.

“It’s meant to be a school not a prison,” said one parent.

Someone else went as far as to say: “It’s no longer a school where children can be happy and learn, this place has turned into a concentration camp.”

Another said: “All three of my children are miserable attending Bideford college because of the rule changes, my kids have been in tears on a regular basis because they hate having to go to school.

“Not being able to talk in class, not allowed to look out the window, it’s pathetic! It’s not a military school but it’s trying to become one.”

It is not the first time Mr Parnell has sparked outrage among parents.

In 2019, he took over as the interim principal at Holmleigh Park High School in Gloucestershire.

There, it was reported that hundreds of pupils were punished with detention just one day into his new behavioural policies, with parents likening the new regime to a “military school”.

Now, parents say he has brought the same style of autocracy to Bideford College. Many pupils agree.

One child, in year eight, said: “Even though school is meant for learning, now we have to do everything in silence, even art and science experiments.”

She added: “In the morning we have ‘greeting’ which is meant to make you less worried.

“But if you do something wrong, you have to walk in front of all the students and stand by the door.

“Last year I wanted to go to school in the mornings.

“I’d wake up and want to see my friends and learn in a fun way, but this year I don’t really look forward to going to school because it’s so strict and stressful.”

Meanwhile, an open letter to the school reads: “Children are regularly being sanctioned for minor infringements and are therefore missing vital lessons.

“They are expected to sit in complete silence in many lessons…. They are coming home in tears, not wanting to go to school at all, or requesting to be moved.”

The letter goes on to say: “It appears that all children are being collectively punished. The environment that has been created is extremely harmful to their education and wellbeing.

“We believe the school needs to review the changes made; stop using collective punishment, stop silent working, stop mindless copying, stop needless sanctions.

“The school is an education setting for children to learn and flourish, it is not a punishment.

“Since Mr Parnell became the CEO he has brought in rule after rule, after rule, that both the pupils and the teachers need to follow.

“There are to be no exceptions made, so if a child is experiencing a hard time out of school the teachers are not allowed to use their judgement when dealing with them.

“All of the teachers breathed a sigh of relief at the good OFSTED judgement, they were proud that their teaching, their school was good.

“This upbeat attitude did not last long, they were soon told they were not doing their jobs correctly, not delivering adequate lessons and they had to change.”

The letter goes on to say: “The children are scared that if they pick-up/click a pen, call out an answer [through over eagerness because they know and are keen to share!] or other minor infraction that they will receive from lessons.

“Previously teachers were allowed to use their judgement as to whether the child was being disruptive to the class or not, not anymore.

“Our children with additional needs are also being asked to sit still and observe the teacher with eye contact, this is really uncomfortable for a lot of them, not just those with ADHD, ASD etc.”

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