Outwood Grange Academies Trust has hit back at claims that it had a policy of aggressively shouting at pupils as part of a “ritual humiliation” aimed at instilling discipline known as ‘flattening the grass’.

In its strongest rebuttal to date, a spokesperson for Outwood said it “categorically” denied having a policy of “humiliating children or deliberately causing them upset”, and produced three testimonials from leaders at two academies taken over by the trust last year.

The response came on the day Tes published new accounts from teachers who said they had seen the practice. 

How the story broke: Outwood Grange uses crisis managers to explain ‘flattening the grass’ 

Investigation: Insiders allege Outwood Grange ‘ritually humiliated’ pupils

Read: Teaching at ‘flattening the grass’ school ‘felt like being a prison warden’

Earlier this month, Tes reported multiple sources who said that when Outwood took over a new school, it would flood the academy with executives during a series of “rolling assemblies”.

The sources said the trust had a deliberate policy to “pick on” pupils, with “intense shouting” in their faces for minor transgressions. This was said to continue weeks afterwards, with executives pulling children out of their classes and “screaming” at them.

Outwood today provided Tes with testimonials which it said contradicted the claims. Tes has published them in full below:

Liz Ford, principal, Outwood Academy City Fields, Wakefield (formally taken over by Outwood July 2018)

After months of turbulence, having been part of WCAT (the school’s former academy chain), on Friday 22 June 2018 we launched the beginning of our journey with Outwood Grange Academies Trust with our students. The assembly for each group took place in the usual way. Students entered the assembly hall and took their seats quietly, as has always been my expectation. The principal, leaders of the school, teachers of each year group and some experienced OGAT Subject Directors who had already been supporting the school were all present in the Assembly Hall.

The launch was extremely positive, led jointly by me and the executive principal who had been working closely with the leaders, teachers and students of Outwood Academy City Fields since November 2017. The executive principal and the team had been part of numerous staff meetings and student assemblies over the months leading up to June. They were all familiar faces throughout the academy in June 2018. The students were, as always, attentive and eager to hear what was being said, following the months of uncertainty and speculation surrounding the future of their school.

Every student was given a tie during this assembly. The message was clear: you are now a part of our family of schools. You are the most important person in this room and you will now have the access to all the support and opportunities that every student across our trust is given. They were all very clear that their future with Outwood was about students first: raising standards and transforming lives.

The expectations of behaviour were made extremely clear. You are here to learn. No one has the right to stop you from learning. We will not let anyone jeopardize your chances of doing great things at school and in your life. Students’ choices, and the benefits of making positive choices over poor ones, were made very clear - providing a succinct message.

The pledges, the residential, the enrichment experiences that are part of this new partnership dominated these very clear messages - we are now part of a family of schools and we will be supported by expertise, investment in students and investment in the fabric of the buildings.

The assembly was inspirational, positive and clear. Expectations and aspirations are now high. Opportunities are here. Our students left the assembly quietly, as has always been my expectation.

What has this created? A place where children are happy, thriving, standards are rapidly improving and staff are supported through high-quality professional development and expert subject guidance and leadership.

I do not recognise my school through the statement I have been shown.

Adam Griffith, assistant principal, City Fields

With regards to the initial assemblies delivered by Carolyn Blundell and Liz Ford on 22 June 2018, in my mind, the atmosphere in the hall could only be described as motivational and inspirational.

The message was clear: this is an exciting opportunity for every student in the room - the extra support on offer, pledges system, residential trips were all explained.

Expectations were made clear: we won’t accept one student stopping a class from learning; a message that almost all students support, and that was backed up a few weeks later when a sample of students told us what they thought about the consequences system, which was overwhelmingly positive too.

When Carolyn spoke about “showing us you’re with us” by wearing a new tie on Monday, I personally felt that the vast majority of students had already bought into the OGAT message and left the hall with a certain energy.

I don’t recall any shouting at any students; the atmosphere was just really positive.

Alyson Million, principal, Outwood Primary Academy Park Hill, Wakefield (formally taken over by Outwood in April 2018)

I have never heard of “flattening the grass” and no jargon was ever used during our seven-week transformation programme; our transformation process was exactly described in the name: it introduced new, improved ways of working in different areas, over the seven weeks. This was a gradual process to ensure that everyone at all levels learned new systems and processes - systems and processes that provide consistency, rigour, raised expectations, confidence and most importantly, improved outcomes for our children.

In the 10 years that I have been at Park Hill, there have been many initiatives, however, our sponsorship by Outwood has had the most dramatic and positive impact by far. I am working in a more focused way; there are clear structures and purposes for every aspect of my role. I know that my daily actions impact on pupil outcomes; I am working smarter not harder. My passion for teaching and leading has been reignited! I feel supported, confident and am proud to be an Outwood Principal.