A multi-academy trust facing claims that it used a controversial discipline strategy known as “flattening the grass” is overhauling its behaviour policy.

Outwood Grange Academies Trust, which runs 31 academies across the Midlands and North, is introducing its new policy from September.

In December a judicial review was launched against Outwood’s policy of sending misbehaving pupils to a “consequences room”, where children have to sit silently in booths.

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And in February Tes reported claims from former and current members of staff who alleged that the MAT had engaged in the “ritual humiliation” of pupils to “terrify” children into compliance via an approach called “flattening the grass”.

Outwood said that it had taken the decision to “refresh” its behaviour policy before legal action was brought against the trust in December, when an application was made to the High Court on behalf of a student.

Outwood: New behaviour policy

It said it had been planning a review of the policy and agreed that the points raised in the judicial review would be considered as part of this process. As a result, the application was withdrawn, Outwood said.

The trust said the main changes to its policy are “around a greater emphasis on the teaching of good behaviours”. “Consequences” rooms have also been renamed “reflection rooms”.

In a glossary of terms, the reflection room is described as a “closely monitored environment in which pupils work and learn outside of mainstream classes… the students sit at individual desks with dividers to ensure they can reflect on their behaviour and work without distraction”.

Last month, Tes reported that Outwood’s existing behaviour system was facing difficulties following a drive to lower the exclusion rate in its schools.

The new policy states that if a student is referred to the reflection room 15 times in one term then they will be referred to a “behaviour panel”. “In this meeting, a review of the student’s behaviour, the interventions used to date and their success will be discussed and a plan put in place to identify further strategies to support the student.”

Martyn Oliver, Outwood’s chief executive, said: “This new behaviour policy will continue to help us put students first, raise standards and transform the lives of students at our academies. 

“The vast majority of our students behave in a way that makes us all very proud. We support those where improvements are needed and the new policy will also focus on the teaching of good behaviours. We rightly have high expectations in all aspects of our academies, including teaching, academic results, extracurricular activities and behaviour.”

He added: “Since becoming CEO in 2016, I have been committed to constantly reviewing our practices and policies to ensure that we remain fully committed to putting students first. This has always been an important part of the trust’s success, developing the way we work to achieve ongoing improvement for the benefit of our students.”