A Swindon school has responded to criticism that children were “left hungry” during a power cut described as a “complete disaster”.

The outage meant that the kitchens at The Deanery school could not sell food on Friday, September 6, with pupils who relied on canteen school lunches reportedly being left without a meal.

The Deanery was one of several schools to lose power along with over 100 homes, but one mother has criticised the school’s handling of the situation.

She said: “I'm sure I'm not the only parent that had worries over Friday as there were a lot of parents trying to collect our children which was a complete disaster.

“I only knew there was an issue as my child messaged me to say there was no electricity or water at the school and they were sat in a classroom not doing anything.

“They also said children were telling teachers they were hungry and the teachers’ response was that they couldn't do anything about it.”

The parent said while children with packed lunches could eat, those who usually purchased food could not due to the payment system being down.

She asked: “How can they think it is safe or correct to keep the school open? Surely for health and safety reasons, it should have been closed and pupils sent home?”

A spokesperson for The Park Academies Trust said: "Pupils and families were kept up to date at all times and parents and carers were told they could collect their children if they were able to. 

“We’re proud of how our staff and students handled the situation caused by a problem that had affected the local power supply.”

Jon Young became executive principal of the Wichelstowe school - and another Swindon secondary at Abbey Park - in September 2024 a year after it received the lowest possible Ofsted rating.

Ofsted reported children "do not receive an acceptable standard of education” and "are not well prepared for life in modern Britain". The school joined The Park Academies Trust after its former trust ceased to exist following the report.

The school is Swindon’s newest after opening in 2019 at a cost of £25 million.

Then-principal, Ms Culling, said in 2019: “We want this to be an exceptional school that doesn’t specialise in a particular subject but instead focuses on helping students live life in all its fullness. 

“So, no matter what they’re good at – science, sports, drama, maths – we will bring out the best in them and help them excel.”