Inside ‘Britain’s strictest school’ with tough rules including 5pm finish time, no packed lunches & SATURDAY detentions
THE school has been dubbed Britain's strictest over its 5pm finishes and Saturday detentions for slacking pupils.
Mercia School in Sheffield, Yorkshire insists on "high standards of behaviour and teaching", which it enforces through some of the most stringent rules in the country.
The school day is far longer than most, as Mercia opens its doors at 7.30am and home time isn't until 5pm Monday through Thursday.
On these days lessons run from 8.20am until 4pm, with the remaining hour at the end of the day reserved for "self-study" and homework.
On Friday's home time is 3.45pm, but get three detentions in a week and students will be kept on for another two and a quarter hours in "Headteacher's detention".
Mercia also has Saturday morning detentions for pupils who skip holiday work or who the Head decides are deserving of it.
Lunch time is no less strict, with packed lunches banned and healthy diets emphasised.
Students are only allowed to bring in water and fruit, while paying £2.20 per day for breakfast, a break time snack and a two-course lunch.
This rule isn't just for the youngsters though, as teachers and pupils eat the same food all together.
Uniform is tightly policed and can only be bought from the official supplier.
The approach seems to work as Mercia has the lowest exclusion rate and highest attendance percentage in the city, while students undertake five maths and English lessons per week to maintain high educational standards.
However, it's not all rules and regulations as pupils can be rewarded with house points, as well as positive phone calls and letters from staff to parents, for exceptional work.
House points combine at the end of the year to crown house champions, with sports day and University Challenge key events in the fixture list.
Privileges are also extended for academic excellence, with top pupils being allowed to leave class slightly early for club activities, though if their grades suffer this is stopped.
Mercia School have been approached for comment.