A secondary school in Kidderminster has admitted that it is searching students for banned items, including mobile phones, but has denied conducting full body searches.
A statement has been released by Baxter College, which is based on Habberley Road, following social media criticism of the school’s mobile phone policy and suggestions that ‘random’ full-body searches were being conducted.
According to Baxter College, maintaining a ‘calm, safe, and focused environment’ for students is a ‘top priority’, and to support this, its behaviour policy permits staff to conduct searches if a student is suspected of having an ‘item that is not allowed’ in school.
The school says that during these searches, students empty their bags and pockets and staff make ‘no physical contact’ and ‘never’ carry out full body searches.
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A metal detector will ‘sometimes’ be used to detect banned items.
Baxter College has thanked parents and carers of students for their ‘support and cooperation’ as the policy is embedded.
A spokesperson for Baxter College said: “Maintaining a calm, safe, and focused environment for our students is always our top priority.
“To support this, our behaviour policy permits us to conduct searches if we suspect a student has an item that is not allowed in school.
“During a search, students simply empty their own bag and pockets—staff make no physical contact, and we never carry out full body searches.
“We have a metal detector that we will sometimes use to detect prohibited items.
“As part of our commitment to government guidelines, we maintain a mobile-phone-free environment, which requires students to hand in their phones each morning.
“We are incredibly grateful to our parents and carers for your ongoing support and cooperation as we embed this policy.”
