Mum accuses school of ‘power trip’ as pupils made to stand as teacher enters room but head says it’s basic manners

A MUM has blasted a school for making pupils stand up when a teacher enters the class, labelling the practice a “regimented power trip”.

Michelle Westgarth-Graham said she was shocked when she learned about the new rule at Trinity Catholic College in Middlesbrough.

The school’s headteacher Louise Dwyer defended the institution saying it is “getting the basics right” and teaching pupils to respect others.

She added her school has recently experienced problems with poor behaviour among pupils.

The mum-of-five, from Middlesbrough, hit back calling the new regime a “throwback to Victorian times”.

Ms Westgarth-Graham said: "I know the school has an issue with behaviour.

"I'm just not convinced that kind of conformity is the way to stamp it out.

"What next, a salute?”

She added: "The school has implemented some really good things, the head has come in and got stuck in and is sorting these things out.

"But this is a little bit too far.

";What else is implemented without parents knowing?"

The headteacher said everyone at the school should respect basic manners.

These include staff greeting pupils at the start of lessons with a “good morning” or “good afternoon”, Teesside Live reports.

Mrs Dwyer added: "Our aim is to build on the strong Catholic ethos that already exists and ensure that all staff have a driving ambition for every child to excel.

"We teach our pupils to have respect for one another, the staff and environment.

"My main aim as headteacher is to provide a climate for learning that is purposeful and therefore we have spent time on getting the basics right."

With its 1,300 pupils, Trinity Catholic College is Middlesbrough's largest Catholic school.

A statement on its website reads: “Trinity Catholic College is a caring and inclusive college.

"We have established a strong reputation and are held in extremely high regard by the immediate and wider community."

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