Blackburn primary school headteacher sacked for 'bullying' allegations (From Lancashire Telegraph)
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Blackburn primary school headteacher sacked for 'bullying' allegations
10:46am Friday 27th January 2012 in Blackburn
ALLEGATIONS St Alban’s RC Primary School, Blackburn
A HEADTEACHER has been sacked after a nine-month investigation into allegations of bullying against staff and pupils.
The Lancashire Telegraph understands that it was decided by governors that Annie Owens, head of St Alban’s RC Primary School, Blackburn, would be dismissed.
Parents have now received letters notifying them of the situation.
Mrs Owens was suspended in April last year after staff lodged complaints with unions over claims of ‘inappropriate conduct’ with staff and children.
An investigation was launched after a joint letter from unions ATL, GMB, NUT and Unison was posted to the school’s governing body containing more than 20 separate allegations of incidents.
As part of the disciplinary hearing process Salford Diocese, which led the investigation with the governing body, said the ‘decision may be the subject of appeal’ by Mrs Owens.
And in the interests of stability at the school, the diocese said the current acting headteacher Diana Boardman will remain in post.
A spokesman for Salford Diocese said: “We can confirm that following a recent disciplinary hearing, a panel of governors from St Alban’s have now reached a decision.
“As this decision may be the subject of appeal, we are unable to provide further detail at this stage.
“We would like to reassure parents, pupils staff and governors, that the temporary arrangements that have served the school well in Mrs Owens absence will remain in place until an appeal, if required, is heard.”
The National Union of Teachers, NUT, said that they were committed to working with the school’s governors, the diocese and Blackburn with Darwen Council to secure a successful future for the school.
National executive and Blackburn with Darwen Branch secretary, Simon Jones NUT said: “This has been a very serious and traumatic case.
“It takes tremendous courage and integrity to stand up to such regimes and I congratulate staff for their brave and principled stand.
“The school has been a much happier place during the time the head has been suspended and I’m sure parents and pupils will have welcomed the improvement.
“The union remains committed to working with the school governors and the local authority to secure long term successful future management arrangements.”
Coun Maureen Bateson, Blackburn with Darwen Council executive member for children’s services, said: “We have been made aware that there has been a hearing and the governing body has come up with an outcome.
“It is a matter for the governing body however we will offer some assistance and support to the school.”
In the school’s last Ofsted report in May 2010 the 247-pupil school it was rated as satisfactory.
Ofsted inspectors said: “St Alban's RC Primary is an improving school and provides a satisfactory quality of education for its pupils.
“Behaviour is good and harmonious relationships exist between the different age, religious and ethnic groups.
“Under the energetic and determined leadership of the new headteacher, there has been a concerted effort to boost pupils' achievement."
Mrs Owens could not be contacted to comment.
Comments(22)
makaveli96
says...
11:44am Fri 27 Jan 12
Simon: "No mis"
makaveli96
says...
11:51am Fri 27 Jan 12
same-old-story
says...
1:44pm Fri 27 Jan 12
kateash wrote:So what do you do RUN! what a chicken you are!
I know another school where the head is bullying the teachers and most of them, over the years she has been there, have just left rather than confront it as she reduces some teachers especially NQT's to despair. The governors know this is happening but are unable to do anything unless formal complaints are made. She is very well known in teaching circles in the area for her bullying behaviour. It is very difficult to remove a head so I applaude the staff and governors of this school for getting this result and to all you bullying headteachers I ask this question: Do you not realise the hurt, pain and anguish that you personally cause to some excellent NQT's and mature teachers and their families! Many of these teachers leave teaching altogether. May I also add that the school I am referring to is also a church school! What a bad example these heads are to staff and pupils!
kateash
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2:39pm Fri 27 Jan 12
philmoulden
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3:44pm Fri 27 Jan 12
bernard manning ,quality
Aslam Hussain
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4:16pm Fri 27 Jan 12
We need to rid Schools from all bullys and start teaching the children properly which will benefit them in the future.
I would also like to see more Male teachers in School ( I am not sexist ) as this would benefit boys who need role models with their classrooms.
burner
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4:31pm Fri 27 Jan 12
Aslam Hussain
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10:56pm Fri 27 Jan 12
burner wrote:??????
@ Aslam . . . . . I must write the plural of bully 100 times. Goes to prove YOU never listened!
Road Biker
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2:53pm Sat 28 Jan 12
Seems the same union rep who was at the centre of the trouble at Darwen Vale is once again only too happy to big up his members, well maybe he would like to explain how my child was in one of his members classes and in a whole school year made no progress what so ever. Seems he would rather represent lazy and incompetent teachers than give our children a decent education and the life chances that he and his members enjoy.
Our child is now flourishing in a school only down the road, hopefully Ofsted will now get involved and turf these disgraceful failing teachers out.
All the best to Mrs Owens, she did a lot for our child and I know of several other families that she went beyond the call of duty to help out in very difficult circumstances. St Albans will now probably drift into a failing school. Such a shame for the community.
Aslam Hussain
says...
5:15pm Sat 28 Jan 12
Road Biker wrote:Fair comment but did You speak up for the Headteacher at the time?
Since the Headteacher has left, we have pulled our children out of St Albans. The Headteacher was turning the school around and getting a better education for the children. Last year in the headteachers absence the lazy staff couldn't even be bothered to organise a school trip for the children. I know of many other parents who have left the school this past year and I don't doubt that many more will now the head is not coming back. Seems the same union rep who was at the centre of the trouble at Darwen Vale is once again only too happy to big up his members, well maybe he would like to explain how my child was in one of his members classes and in a whole school year made no progress what so ever. Seems he would rather represent lazy and incompetent teachers than give our children a decent education and the life chances that he and his members enjoy. Our child is now flourishing in a school only down the road, hopefully Ofsted will now get involved and turf these disgraceful failing teachers out. All the best to Mrs Owens, she did a lot for our child and I know of several other families that she went beyond the call of duty to help out in very difficult circumstances. St Albans will now probably drift into a failing school. Such a shame for the community.
Its hard for Teachers at the moment because they have had a lot of power taken away from them and the pupils can basically do what they like in lessons. I also think its up to parents to make sure their children are behaving properly in school otherwise their future is is going to be rather bleak.
Road Biker
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9:34pm Sat 28 Jan 12
hairy mary
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8:42am Sun 29 Jan 12
same-old-story
says...
9:10am Sun 29 Jan 12
kateash wrote:This is what happens when someone tries to make a difference to a floudering situation you get the 'kateash' of this world running off and telling tales which is what they are supposedly teaching the kids not to do.
Excuse me " same old story" save your snide comments for the headteacher in question who makes the lives of all her teachers a misery. Unless you have seen the devastation this causes to peoples lives you are not in a position to comment! The only way to conquer this is for teachers to unite and be backed fully by the unions. "Same old story" do not throw out your comments. They do not help one bit!!
The head teacher never stood a chance when you have got staff like this on your team spitting venom behind everyones back, along with some union bully saying either 'be in or get sent to coventry' bigging everyone up for a fall.
There is a difference between management and bullying and if you are told/asked to carry out a task then you do it, but not you cos you throw your toys out of the pram and go have a cry on here.
Well iv'e put my hands over my ears and i'm repeating 'not listening' over and over just like you taught me!
kateash
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1:35pm Sun 29 Jan 12
same-old-story
says...
2:02pm Sun 29 Jan 12
kateash wrote:Thats exactly what i'm doing ...debating... you think everyones bullying you
" same old story" I am not a teacher and never have been so your argument and bullying type comments are futile. You know nothing about me so try and have a bit of decorum and mind your manners. These posts are for debating an issue not for childish comments about other posts!
IComment
says...
5:47pm Sun 29 Jan 12
The Government have issued statistics regarding the alarming increase in the number of failing schools and teachers that are incompetent.
Headteachers take on these schools and turn them around in exceptionally challenging circumstances in a short space of time.
Many Headteachers will not take on this challenge. Yet when some do and they begin to bring about the much needed changes and improvements they are met with resistance, resentment and hostility.
Headteachers are in an incredibly vulnerable position, they are appointed for their dynamism, energy and vision and encouraged to bring about better life chances for the school community.
Yet when they attempt to do this, they are accused of bullying. There is a vast difference between a Headteacher with vision, passion, drive, determination and being a so called bully.
Good teachers welcome and embrace change and development. Any teacher who does not welcome professional development and challenge does not deserve to be in the role.
If we do not tackle these incompetent teachers, we will continue to have inadequate teaching of our children.
We need to offer these Headteachers our full support to rid our schools of teachers who are incompetent and ensure that a clear message to teachers is issued - incompetence will no longer be tolerated.
It is made far too easy for disgruntled staff to get together and vent their frustrations at an innocent Headteacher.
Until this changes our Headteachers are in such a precarious position, do they champion change and improvement or sit back and allow groups of stale, disenfranchised teachers to prevent any development or improvement.
Our children deserve better!
Our Headteachers deserve better!
Aslam Hussain
says...
9:18am Tue 31 Jan 12
Road Biker wrote:That doesn't seem fair , parents should be informed when situations like this arise as its the Headteacher the parents seek when there are issues with Our Children.
Aslam, none of the parents knew there was an hearing, otherwise I bet Mrs Owens would still be in her job today and several of her accusers would probably know what a good proportion of the parents think of them.
Maybe its the Teachers will get their comeuppance one day if they have 'ganged' up on this Headteacher.
umustbjoking
says...
5:29pm Tue 31 Jan 12
The investigation would have recommended what route to take either a grievance or disciplinary action against the Head. In this case there must have been quite enough evidence in support of staff allegations. It is never done on just hear say. Mrs Owens may have had some support of parents like she probably would have had parents that are non supporters also.
St Albans was rated good by Ofsted in 2001 and satisfatory since. Bullying against staff and children were in the LET headlines so I am sure plenty of parents complained and perhaps many children removed whilst she was the head.
When bullying does take place it effects staff moral and in a school setting that would have effects on the children.
PS @ road biker Trips are organised by the Head and not the teachers in schools maybe she was lazy and also didnt balance the books right.
Also several unions involved NUT, GMB, ALT, UNISON.
sirtells
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7:15pm Wed 1 Feb 12
Dave_P
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6:26pm Thu 2 Feb 12
Road Biker wrote:Absolute rubbish, this woman has detestable communication skills with both pupils and parents.
Aslam, none of the parents knew there was an hearing, otherwise I bet Mrs Owens would still be in her job today and several of her accusers would probably know what a good proportion of the parents think of them.
We withdrew the first of our children due to this woman and the way in which she treated him (and me to be perfectly honest)
kat851
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10:02pm Thu 2 Feb 12
kateash says...
11:23am Fri 27 Jan 12