Cardinal Allen Catholic High School, Fleetwood

I am extremely disappointed with Cardinal Allen Catholic High School. It's clear that this institution is more concerned with students' appearances than their actual education or mental well-being. The school's policies on things like makeup, piercings, hairstyles, and accessories are downright harmful, especially to students who already struggle with their identity or mental health issues. Many students rely on expressing themselves through these things to boost their confidence, yet the school’s strict and oppressive rules take that away, leaving students feeling worse about themselves.

It's incredibly frustrating to see the school constantly prioritize trivial things like appearance over the real issues at hand, such as academic success and mental health. Year 11 students, who are in their final year to secure their future and do well in their GCSEs, are being subjected to pointless punishments like isolation for issues that shouldn't even be on the radar. A student wearing makeup or missing a detention is not a reason to be removed from class and placed in isolation. All this does is punish them further and waste their valuable learning time.

It’s also maddening how students get into trouble for completely unfair reasons. A few of my classmates have received stage 4s just for not understanding the lesson, or even for talking during class—something that other students get away with without any consequences. The double standards are glaring, and it feels like some students are unfairly targeted while others are allowed to break the rules with no repercussions. It’s demoralizing, and it creates an environment where students feel like they’re constantly walking on eggshells, unsure of when they might be punished for something that others can get away with.

I have personally seen students who are misunderstood and treated unfairly, receiving harsh punishments like stage 4s or even suspensions for reasons that don’t make sense. The school doesn't seem to care to listen to students or try to understand their perspective. It’s clear that the teachers and administration think they’re always right just because they’re adults, without any regard for how their actions affect the students’ mental health. It's even worse when the staff pick and choose who gets to break the rules and who doesn’t, creating a sense of unfairness and favoritism.

I’ll never forget the time I was suspended for wearing makeup. The school made me feel completely ashamed of myself. Instead of trying to understand why I wore it, I was shouted at, grabbed, and made to wipe it off in front of everyone. I’m not the only one who’s been through this; I know other students who have faced similar treatment and felt humiliated. The school should be a place where students feel supported and able to express themselves, not where they're punished for things that don’t affect their education or their ability to learn.

And don’t even get me started on the headteacher, Mr. Cafferkey. His attitude towards mental health is appalling, especially considering he’s in charge of a school. His comments about not caring about mental health issues because of his religious beliefs are not only insensitive but completely unacceptable in a school environment. Students should feel safe and supported, but instead, many feel like their struggles are dismissed and ignored.

At this point, it feels like Cardinal Allen Catholic High School isn’t even focused on education anymore. It’s more about controlling every little detail of students’ lives, even their appearance. I would strongly recommend anyone to reconsider sending their child here if you want them to receive a well-rounded education and feel supported. This school is only making things harder for students who already have a lot to deal with.

Honestly horrible I went for around 3 years and actually ended up dropping out. I hated it so much I would refuse to go crying being sick anything to stop me going it was horrible .

Horrendous. You can’t even have a good haircut 😭

This school is honestly the worst. The teachers care more about your appearance than your education! People get excluded for having nose piercings (don’t see how it’s distracting) when many teachers have nose piercings. You have to have a natural hair colour or you could get excluded! You are only allowed one plain gold or silver stud in each ear but has to be your first piercing. Most of the teachers are hypocrites, all the rules they have most of the teachers break anyway! With the boys you aren’t allowed extremely short hair or long hair so they are very limited how they have it!
Mental health in school they don’t care about, they won’t do anything about it.
If your ill they don’t send you home, they make you go back to lessons!
The only rule I get is your not allowed acrylics especially when you have pe!
Another stupid rule is that if you role your skirt up to many times then the school will force you to wear pants!
However some of the teachers are nice and show a good side to the school!
Behaviour: the school don’t care about behaviour, if your naughty then you’ll get out on inclusion or isolation and if that doesn’t change you, you will be excluded. Most people see exclusion as a reward as they get out of school for however long!
Honestly, if I was you I wouldn’t send your child here unless they have a chance of getting good exam results when they finish
After school clubs: there are a variety of after school clubs but they are only really aimed at low achievers who have no chance at passing exams or those who are sporty! The only chance you have at getting a good education is if you have one of the very few decent teachers