Teachers speak of ‘fear’ at Astrea schools in Cambridgeshire

It promises to “inspire beyond measure”, but teachers at one academy trust say fear and toxicity run through their schools. Astrea Academy Trust is responsible for some 15,000 pupils, including nearly 5,000 in Cambridgeshire. But how are the trust’s controversial behaviour policies having an impact on the children and the teachers who must implement them?

Astrea runs 26 state-funded schools, four of which are secondary schools in Cambridgeshire – Cottenham Village College, St Ivo in St Ives, and both Ernulf and Longsands in St Neots.

Kate, not her real name, says she became a teacher to inspire her pupils, but left Ernulf fearing the repercussions of straying from their strict rules – policies the trust says were introduced to address poor student behaviour post-Covid.

“It’s just basically: be in line, be silent and just get through your day. Do as you’re told,” she says.

“You don’t like it? There’s the door. It’s the Astrea way or the highway. This is absolutely toxic.”