'Head from Hell' who introduced Saturday detentions says school rating boost shows 'strict' methods work

By ELEANOR HARDING, EDUCATION EDITOR Published: 17:25, 5 May 2026 | Updated: 17:29, 5 May 2026 A strict headteacher is officially winning his battle to turn round a troubled high school - even though his tough discipline crackdown meant he was dubbed a 'head from hell'. Alun Ebenezer, 51, clamped down on uniforms, brought in giant maths classes and launched weekend detentions to turn around the school. He took over at Caldicot School, Monmouthshire, in June 2024 when teachers were repeatedly on strike over violent pupils and unruly behaviour. But just under two years later inspectors have taken the 1,300-pupil school off the list of those needing 'significant improvement'. Mr Ebenezer, a teacher of 27 years, brought in a range of different methods such as Saturday detentions, university-style maths classes, and house choir competitions to improve discipline. He was dubbed the 'headmaster from hell' by parents after he sent 50 children home in one day over uniform violations such as wearing the wrong socks and the lengths of girls' skirts. He also returned the school to wearing blazers and introduced rewards for high attendance rates. Inspectors from Estyn - the Welsh version of Ofsted in England - originally placed Caldicot in the category of needing 'significant improvement' - which is reserved for troubled schools. Alun Ebenezer, 50, was dubbed the 'headmaster from hell' by parents after taking over at troubled Caldicot School - but says his 'zero tolerance' approach has been vindicated by inspectors Caldicot School in Monmouthshire where turmoil saw teachers repeatedly go on strike over violent pupils and unruly behaviour before Alun Ebenezer took over The new head was brought in as an emergency measure almost two years ago after teaching unions said the Welsh state school was being effectively run by students. However, inspectors returned to the school shortly before Easter and said it has made 'sufficient progress' to be removed from this list. Mr Ebenezer said he stood by his 'strict' methods and that they had created a 'happier' environment. He said: 'It's not the case young people are miserably coming to school. This strict approach has made them happier, they know when they come into school what the standards and expectations of discipline are but within that young people are happier, safer and flourishing and pastoral care all go together.' In a letter to parents he compared the school to Narnia from the novel The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe saying: 'For years and years in Narnia it was "winter never Christmas". Winter is over now.' Last summer the school said A Level and GCSE results had improved. Figures released by the school said Year 11 exam scores rose by 14 points, equivalent to nearly two and a half grades per student. In A-level results 39 percent of pupils scored grades at A or A*, and university applications increased by 15 percent, with every applicant securing a place. Speaking at the time, Mr Ebenezer said: 'Caldicot is not chasing trends. It is building a culture where every child belongs, every child can achieve, and every child matters.' The teacher, who has said he grew up a 'free school meals boy' in the rundown village of Beaufort, Blaenau Gwent, explained: 'You learn from the past. There were things that went on when I was a child which were wrong.' Mr Ebenezer brought in the giant maths classes with 60 pupils to a room after a shortage of teachers within the school. He later brought in Saturday detentions and said they were needed in cases where other punishments, including being held after school, had not worked. But he said the weekend scheduling had an instant impact. He said: 'Even the hardest eleven kids turned up in full uniform for Saturday detention. That tells you something.' During his uniform clampdown parents say girls arriving for class reported being confronted with wet wipes to remove make up and nail clippers to cut their nails as well as demands that the length of their skirts are measured. Unlike Ofsted, Estyn no longer has a ratings scale for schools - but it has kept two bottom ratings for those that are in difficulty: 'significant improvement' and, below it, 'special measures'. These signal that the school needs further monitoring by the inspectorate while it works to improve itself.  No comments have so far been submitted. Why not be the first to send us your thoughts, or debate this issue live on our message boards. By posting your comment you agree to our house rules. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? 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