Children at a school on the Isle of Wight have launched a petition after a new 'prison-like regime' brought in for the new year has left students feeling like they are contestants in Squid Game.

Pupils returned to Cowes Enterprise College last week to find a complete overhaul of the previous rules, with toilets now locked during lesson time, flavoured drinks banned and a 'drill sergeant' forcing pupils to stand outside in the rain.

Now it has been revealed that the school has started playing music through corridors between lessons, threatening pupils with detention if they do not make their next class by the time the music ends in a twisted game of musical chairs.

The school has also covered the windows and doors with paper 'so that the children could not see in and out', according to one parent.

Despite backlash from parents at the weekend, the school told parents on Monday that they were 'blowing things out of proportion'. 

Meanwhile pupils were reportedly taken into assemblies where they were shown videos of children around the world who struggle to get an education before being told to be 'grateful for the the one they receive'.

The Academy which runs the school previously told The Mail that the changes were brought in to create 'an even calmer, safer environment that supports both well-being and academic achievement'.

However parents have continued to criticise the changes and accused the school of 'breaching human rights'.

One parent said his child has stopped drinking at school for fear of needing the toilet.

Lee said his son suffers from autism as well as a bladder condition.

He told The Mail: 'He’s been coming home sad, hungry, thirsty and crying. 

'He isn’t allowed the toilet without being escorted which can take 20 minutes, so he isn’t drinking due to fear of not being allowed the toilet. 

'He only gets 10 minutes to eat his lunch before being kicked out of the dinner hall so is barely eating. 

'They are only allowed to sit in groups of 6 maximum, so two of the friends in the group get left out every single lunchtime. 

'He’s no longer allowed in the library or computer room which he used to go to for quieter spaces and is really struggling with the overwhelmingly large number of changes implemented at once. 

'He loved school last year but this year has asked to move schools so we’re now looking at other options.'

The father described the situation as a 'lack of basic human rights' as well as 'a form of disability discrimination'. 

'What they are doing is creating an environment based on fear and deprivation of basic needs which is cruel and inhumane. 

'Whoever implemented these changes needs to be held accountable. Children do not learn whilst operating in fight or flight mode which is exactly what is happening. 

'This will not only directly impact the children’s academic achievements but it is going to have a detrimental affect on their mental health and well being.'

A petition has now been launched, calling for a revision of the security and safeguarding rules at the school and has received more than 500 signatures.

It reads: 'The new security and safeguarding rules implemented at Cowes Enterprise College are having a detrimental impact on the students. 

'The measures, which include the use of alarms/music, strict lunchtime and break rules, enforced toilet policies, and being escorted to lessons, have not only been imposed without consultation with students and parents but also contradict our health and wellbeing.

'For instance, the intention behind the new lunchtimes aimed at creating a calmer environment has backfired. 

'Instead, it has induced anxiety among many students, myself included, around eating. 

'The strict toilet policies force us to wait for a teacher to escort us, which is often delayed, making students uncomfortable and potentially leading to health issues.

'These rules, rather than facilitating a safe and conducive learning environment, have created an atmosphere of intimidation. 

'This negative environment impacts our ability to focus on learning, as we constantly feel stressed and anxious about these restrictions.

'Consulting with students and parents before implementing such drastic changes is essential. We urge the school management of Cowes Enterprise College to reconsider these imposed rules.'

The changes left parents shocked last week as children returned home in tears following strict new rules being implemented as part of the new school year.

Toilets were locked with a shutter pulled down, which was only opened at break and lunch time.

A select few students with medical issues have been told to inform their teacher if they need to use the toilets, before waiting for a member of staff to escort them to a special area protected by a key card.

However one child with cerebral palsy was reportedly left waiting for more than half an hour for a 'toilet buddy' to collect them. 

The change has led to huge queues for the lavatories at break and lunch, with some pupils telling their parents they did not drink throughout the day to avoid having to face the lunchtime rush.

They also had to weigh up whether to risk using the toilet and missing their strict ten-minute allocated time each year group was given to order, collect and eat their food.

That reportedly left some stragglers at the back of the queue being told to throw their lunch away just moments after sitting down.

Another parent reported that their child was given a detention for eating lunch in a 'non-designated area' after his ten-minute time slot. 

Pupils have also been made to stand single-file on a yellow line before entering the building, while a 'drill sergeant' orders them to comply. 

Until all children are stood with one leg on either side of the line, the class is not allowed to enter.

In one instance last week a class were alleged to have been left standing outside in the pouring rain for up to 15 minutes.   

One parent told the Daily Mail that they would be keeping their child, who suffers with autism and ADHD, at home until there is a change in the rules.

They said: 'We received an email a day before they broke up for the summer. We were told that all of the toilet passes for SEN [special educational needs] students would be removed.

'Loads of parents have said their children are refusing to drink water during the day because they don't have the time to queue because they have to get their lunch. 

'They get 35 minutes as a lunch break, but it is divided up into ten minute sessions for each year group and they are escorted to the canteen by a teacher. They get ten minutes to get their food, sit down and eat it. There were children in tears today. 

The parent said the 'prison-like regime' at the school reminded her of an 'army training camp' or 'Alcatraz' - the famously strict former maximum-security prison located on an island off the coast of San Francisco. 

The Academy, which is managed by the Ormiston Academies Trust, received a rating of Good at its last Ofsted inspection.

Another parent said her daughter, who suffers from ADHD, autism and anxiety, was not prepared for how tough the new year would be.

The mother said: 'I feel with all the changes they have put on children today, those who are neurodivergent had no preparation.

'My daughter has a bowel condition, she previously had a medical pass and all she had to do to use the toilet was wave a card.

'Now she has to wait to be escorted by a special member of staff, if she needs to go she needs to go now.

'At break and lunch the queue is ridiculous. There are only three toilets. In the toilets for the Year 8 pupils, there is a male, female and unisex. For about 30 children.'

She added: 'This is the 2020s, not the 1920s. I will be going into school tomorrow to speak to them and I doubt I will be the only one.'

A spokesperson for the academy previously told the Daily Mail: 'We are proud to be a high-performing, inclusive school where students are happy, well supported and achieve well. 

'Everything we do is focused on maintaining and strengthening that culture, and we have policies in place to uphold these high standards.

'At the start of this term, we introduced a number of changes designed to build on that commitment by creating an even calmer, safer environment that supports both well-being and academic achievement. 

'Many of these policies are in response to direct feedback from parents, students and staff, and aim to enhance the overall educational experience of our children and young people.

'We know that new approaches can take time to embed, and we are listening carefully to feedback from parents, students and staff. 

'Where sensible refinements are needed, we will make them. 

'However, we remain confident that these changes will help ensure our school continues to be a place where children can thrive and so we will be working closely with our school community to support this.'