In June 2017, the school attracted criticism after informally excluding at least 40 pupils for peacefully protesting against cuts to education funding and compulsory redundancy of support staff. The then headteacher, Jackie Gair, refused to comment on the incident, but a statement issued by the local authority, Leicester City Council, stated that the authority "was pleased with the way the situation was managed." Many parents responded by saying they only peacefully protest against Hamilton Academy policies.[8]