One of Hounslow's most successful schools has been severely criticised by a website claiming to represent some of its students.
The Heathlands School, in Wellington Road South, has some of the best results of the borough's schools, and was recently awarded specialist science status, to much acclaim.
However, apparently not everyone is happy with this, and a website, called www.voiceofheathlands.co.uk' has been set up by an anonymous group, who claim to be students, but are only contactable by email.
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They say that their aim is to ask questions, criticise and flag up issues which they feel are of concern at the school.
It is unclear, however, whether the website is a genuine attempt to get across students' views, or whether it is merely a half-term prank.
Hounslow Local Education Authority has refused to comment on the website.
The authors of the website claim to have set it up because: "We felt it was about time to do something, and raise our voice against the wrongs we saw.
"Through experience, we knew that talking to the school, through the school council, would achieve nothing, so we looked for a more powerful means to bring our message forward."
Their main complaints, which are posted on the website, are that the specialist status is making the school selective, rather than open for all.
They also criticise the political leanings of their teachers, and an assembly on the benefits of Margaret Thatcher's leadership, and cast a sceptical eye over the relationship the school has with local multi-national pharmaceutical company, GlaxoSmithKline (GSK).
Regarding the specialist school status, and the school, as a whole, they claim: "Many students feel that they are ignored, and have no way of channelling their views.
"Most students on the school council feel it is a puppet organisation.
"The school used to be so proud of being unselective."
The issues surrounding GSK were: "The school's close relationship with GSK is looked down upon by the majority of pupils in the upper years of the school.
"The introduction of Lucozade into the school canteen blatantly suggests that the school has some kind of agreement with GSK, which produces Lucozade, which it is not open about."
They continued: "Also, we have complained for many years, through the school council, that we have trouble affording the food in the canteen.
"This has always been ignored; prices continue to rise, and we are told it is a matter which the school has no influence over, due to the private catering company setting prices.
"We would like to know why the school has the influence to introduce Lucozade, but cannot make the food affordable?"
The students also raised concerns that there were now plasma screens in reception, a lot of extra CCTV cameras around the site and a painted tennis court, which has little benefit'.
However, they did admit that: "Heathlands is a good' school, which achieves some of the best public exam results in the area, and has a highly-respected reputation.
"The exam results have a lot to do with the commitment and dedication that the staff show towards pupils."
No one was available to comment from Heathlands School at the time of going to press.
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