The Department for Education and Ofsted have given their backing to the Outwood Grange Academy Trust following accusations that it engaged in the “ritual humiliation” of pupils to instil discipline, and “flattened” school leaders.

Yesterday Tes reported claims that staff from Outwood Grange Academies Trust and Delta Academies Trust aggressively shouted at pupils as part of a behavioural approach called “flattening the grass”. 

Today, Tes asked both the DfE and Ofsted whether they were concerned by the report, if they thought the description of “flattening the grass” represents an appropriate behaviour management approach, and whether they would be asking questions of the two academy chains.

Story breaks: Outwood Grange uses crisis managers to explain ‘flattening the grass’ 

Investigation: Insiders allege Outwood Grange ‘ritually humiliated’ pupils

Read: Teaching at ‘flattening the grass’ school ‘felt like being a prison warden’

In a response, a DfE spokesperson said: “We value the work of high quality sponsors in raising education standards in underperforming schools across the country.

“It is our belief that trusts, headteachers and teachers know best how to improve behaviour in their own schools and are free to develop their own behaviour management strategies.

“To help trusts and schools develop effective strategies the department has produced advice for schools which covers what should be included in the behaviour policy.”

In its response, the DfE referred to a favourable monitoring inspection by Ofsted of Outwood Grange Acklam in Middlesbrough. Tes has not reported any allegations in relation to Acklam, but the Ofsted inspection took place last month after concerns were raised about behaviour management at the school. 

Ofsted judged that the school was “taking effective action to support and manage the behaviour of vulnerable pupils who have challenging behaviour”.

When Tes contacted Ofsted about flattening the grass, the inspectorate responded: “All schools need to have behaviour management policies in place to create the calm, orderly and safe environment that is a basic requirement for good learning.

“If parents have concerns about the behaviour policy in place at their child’s school, we would encourage them to raise this with the school in the first instance.”

Ofsted also referred Tes to positive survey findings collected through its Parent View website for one of the schools mentioned in the Tes investigation - Outwood Academy Danum in Doncaster.

According to Parent View, 95 per cent of the 55 respondents agree or strongly agree with the statement “my child is happy at the school”

Eighty-five of respondents agree or strongly agree with the statement “this school is well led and managed”.