A woman once dubbed "the strictest head teacher in the country" has written a book about turning round a failing school.

But it has left people wondering how much Alison Colwell drew on her own experiences at Ebbsfleet Academy where she controversially held the helm for seven years before quitting to run an international college in Majorca.

Ms Colwell hit the headlines for slamming parents for undermining her no-nonsense discipline procedures at the school in Swanscombe.

She banned pupils from using mobile phones and, on one occasion, sent 20 girls home for wearing skirts which were too short accusing them of "flashing their thighs".

Speaking from her new home on the Spanish island, she said: "It's not about me and it's not about Ebbsfleet but it is about real life.

"Everything in the book really happened. Yes, it's centred around Ebbsfleet, but I have also pulled on my other experiences in my 30 years of teaching."

Ms Colwell said lawyers had ensured that all characters and incidents in the book had been disguised to protect identities.

She said: "The reason for writing it was to celebrate great teachers, teaching and to celebrate children."

During her watch, Ms Colwell succeeded in turning round its poor reputation at what was previously Swan Valley Community School with Ofsted rating it good at an inspection in 2016 and praising the leadership.

But her strict regime was unpopular with many as she removed abusive parents from the premises and refused others from attending without a prior appointment.

She implemented a strict uniform policy and banned coloured eyebrows.

At one time she was quoted in the Sunday Times as saying: "The most badly behaved children came from the most chaotic families. I once tried to tell a mother she was a bad parent. I got shouted at even more. It was not a strategy I tried again."

In her book, No Excuses, she charts the life of the new head of the fictional Lunsford Academy.

The school, set in a deprived area, is nicknamed Colditz after its prison-like regulations.

Ms Colwell, 55, went to Majorca in August 2018 to take on the role of principal at the Balaeres International College.

In an interview with a local paper she blamed the problem with dysfunctional pupils in the UK on family background and environment and society as a whole.

She said teachers were expected to be held responsible for "everything" which put them under enormous pressure.

Ms Colwell said this problem did not exist in Majorca.

Originally known as "The Secret Head Teacher", Ms Colwell's cover was outed by the Sunday Times in an interview in 2020.

A former police officer with the Met, she has been teaching for nearly three decades.