Tom Sherrington , head of Highbury Grove School sent 300 pupils to detention a day during his first week in charge back in September . A super-strict headmaster has transformed behaviour at his secondary school by putting more than 300 pupils a day in detention . Tom Sherrington joined Highbury Grove School last September and immediately enforced a tough discipline policy , which was called ‘ Orwellian ’ by some parents . Automatic one-hour detentions were introduced for arriving late to a lesson or wearing uniform incorrectly . Disruption in lessons led to a full day in an isolation room . The approach led to ‘ huge numbers ’ in detention – more than 300 every day in the first week . Now , the figure is about 80 . However , punctuality and uniform standards at the school in Islington , North London , have ‘ improved dramatically ’ . The turnaround contributed to society magazine Tatler naming it one of Britain ’ s best state schools this year . Writing in the Times Educational Supplement , Mr Sherrington said : ‘ Standards continue to improve ; behaviour is not yet impeccable but we ’ re well on the way . ‘ More and more students are prepared to admit that they like it ; the school is still a happy , friendly , supportive place – but now they can get on with learning and teachers can get on with teaching in a way that wasn ’ t always possible before. ’ When he started at the music specialist school there was a feeling among staff that approaches based on ‘ restorative justice hadn ’ t really worked ’ . This trendy discipline method in many schools involves taking a no-blame approach to bullies . Mr Sherrington wrote : ‘ The perception was that it had created a need for constant negotiation , enacted inconsistently across the school because of a lack of clarity around the rules and the consequences of breaking them . ‘ Several teachers who left last summer even cited behaviour as a reason . It wasn ’ t terrible in general , but some classes were just too hard to teach . Clearly I needed to act. ’ In January , Tatler magazine said the school , pictured , had been transformed by ' a brilliant new head ' Pupils were given a set of coded warnings and consequences , so they had to make a choice between meeting standards or ‘ sit a detention ’ . Mr Sherrington said : ‘ After 15 weeks , the impact has been clear . Uniform standards and punctuality improved dramatically almost overnight : Students run into school now instead of dawdling and 99 per cent have perfect uniform . Teachers are extremely positive too. ’ He admitted the early weeks were ‘ tough ’ , with parents complaining about the detentions . Some critics said it was ‘ draconian ’ for pupils to sit in silence for an hour . But others urged him not to change the strategy . In January Tatler said the school was ‘ transformed ’ with a ‘ brilliant new head ’ who was keen on ‘ impeccable behaviour ’ and ‘ details ’ including top buttons being done up at all times . This is in stark contrast to the school ’ s low point in 2005 when Channel 4 ’ s Dispatches sent an undercover teacher who filmed pupils clambering across desks , throwing books across the room and attacking each other .
Tom Sherrington joined Highbury Grove School back in September . In January , Tatler described it as one of the best schools in Britain . Mr Sherrington clamped down on discipline upon his arrival in school . 300 pupils-a-day were given detention in the first week for rule breaches . He was also accused by parents and teachers of bullying them into giving up their phones.