PARENTS have accused Nova Hreod Academy of bullying its own students after a display ranking children on their performance was installed.

The board has been installed in the atrium of the Akers Way school, visible to all staff, students and visitors, and many parents have taken to Facebook to voice their outrage and concerns that it will provide ammunition for school bullies.

But a Nova Hreod spokesman said that all parents were informed in writing about the display when it was first installed last year and had the option to have their child removed. Fewer than than a dozen of the school’s 800 pupils have requested this.

Jonathan Francis, whose daughter Abigail is in Year 10, said despite numerous complaints from parents, the school has refused to remove it.

“It’s just made me feel that it’s violating my daughter’s privacy,” said the Moredon dad.

“It’s been there for about two weeks now and there have been numerous comments on Facebook about it, with parents saying that their children are being bullied because of it.

“It includes things like whether they have been put in seclusion, and whether they’re late, and the reason for it, so if their uniform isn’t right and things like that.

“My daughter hasn’t been bullied but there are parents on Facebook saying their children have been because of it. Bullies can see who isn’t doing well and pick on those children. It makes the children feel inadequate and their confidence is diminished. It includes things like whether they have to retake their tests.”

Nova Hreod claim the new system will work to improve standards at the school and every measure is in place to support the most vulnerable, with options for parents to request their child is removed from the display.

A spokesman said the display has been in place since last October and is part of a series of measures that have proved successful elsewhere in raising attainment.

They also said it does not give details on disciplining and seclusion, and the school has not received any complaints of bullying taking place as a consequence.

Incidents of bullying are taken very seriously and no relevant issues have been reported, the school spokesman said.

He said: “Achievement at Nova Hreod has been inadequate in the past and this initiative is one of a series that we have introduced to drive up improvement.

“Each initiative has been carefully planned and all are having a positive impact. We are very careful in our approach because we want every student to benefit from each initiative we have in place.

“Parents can ask to have their children removed from the ranking and we of course oblige.

“However, our experience is that these initiatives are proving successful and benefitting our students by helping to raise their performance.”