WHAT’S ON YOUR MIND?
Letter
Ark Clampdown Improves Behaviour
Re your article Academy Chain Shortlist, I would be interested to know what ‘experiences and concerns’ Helena Dollimore is so worried about in relation to the leadership of Ark Academy schools. Is it the policy of no make-up, fake eyelashes or heavy earrings? Maybe it’s the rule that students have to wear skirts that cannot be rolled up into very short skirts? Is it the zero-tolerance of failing to turn up with the necessary pens, pencils and ruler? Or perhaps it’s the policy of no mobile phones allowed to be brought to school?
This latter rule certainly seems the most divisive (one parent even suggested that it should be referred to the European Court of Human Rights). As a parent, I can tell you that no mobiles at school is a pain. But not only can you learn to cope with it, in many ways it gives Ark pupils an independence and responsible attitude that is so missing these days. My daughter attends Ark Alexandra and her view is that since these ‘draconian rules’ have been applied, she has felt a massive improvement in behaviour, has seen less bullying and enjoyed far more pupil interaction.
Ark is in the early stages of encouraging a better attitude to learning, respect and kindness from students (and parents). It’s not perfect but the building blocks are there – they have a plan. A vision. Perhaps Helena Dollimore should focus on the local schools that seem to be totally lost and struggling to provide leadership and direction for our young students. Oh, and Helena, if you are reading this, perhaps you would have the decency to engage with my wife who has written to you three times to discuss the other side of your ‘experiences and concerns’ in relation to the Leadership of Ark schools.
Christian Clark
Letter
Youthful Gaza Fundraising
Hello, my name is Noah and I am 12yrs old. I am writing to you about a sponsored walk I did along the seafront in Hastings on the 7 April 2025 to raise money for families in Al Mawasi in Gaza. I walked 11 kilometres with my friends and raised £1,863.50. We are doing another sponsored walk on the 20th of July and we are hoping to get even more people involved this time. I am sharing our leaflet and would love it if you could let people know what we are doing so that we can help as many people as possible. I will also include a picture from our sponsored walk in April.
Thank you,
Noah Sims
Letter
Benefits or Weapons
Why has an article highlighting the increase in numbers of PIP claimants (PIP – Personal Independence Payment), been included in HIP, without any reference to the disgraceful cuts to essential disability benefits? As a disabled person, the only inference I can take from this article is that HIP is somehow agreeing with Starmer’s government that something needs to be done about the increase in the numbers of disabled people now eligible for PIP and that the only response is to drastically cut the numbers. This action will save the government money so they can then spend it on more weapons, but the reality is thousands of disabled people will be thrown out of work and into poverty. I have worked all of my life and PIP has been a crucial benefit that has enabled me to stay in work because it covers some of the additional costs related to disability.
It is a disgrace that a Labour government has chosen to target the disabled community by labelling us as workshy benefit scroungers – why isn’t HIP seeking to highlight this instead!
Tara Flood
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