Suspended, head who said: Some staff sit at home doing nothing
A HIgHLY praised headteacher has been suspended for saying that some of her staff are ‘sitting at home doing nothing’ during lockdown.
Pauline Wood is now being investigated by governors after making the comments to a local radio station.
She has held her post at grange Park primary school in Sunderland for 15 years, transforming its Ofsted rating from ‘inadequate’ to ‘outstanding’.
Speaking on BBC Radio Newcastle, she praised some teachers for coming up with ‘imaginative things’ during lockdown but criticised others for not pulling their weight.
Asked if parents were right to think that not all teachers were working hard during the coronavirus lockdown, she agreed ‘to some extent’. She said: ‘You can’t lump everyone together as if they are all one type.
‘Some teachers are coming up with the most imaginative, amazing things and other people do sit at home doing nothing. I won’t defend those people.’
When asked whether the latter group included teachers at her school, Mrs Wood said: ‘Yes, I think it’s time we talked about the elephant in the room in some of this.
‘Some teachers have been in [school], but many have not been in at any time. Safety is paramount, but don’t make out teachers have all been working flat out.’
The governors at grange Park suspended her after receiving a complaint that she had made ‘potentially disparaging comments’ about members of staff.
Primary schools allowed children who are in reception, year one and year six to return to class on June 1.
Some staff at grange Park reportedly refused to work on site for three days a week instead of two, due to problems getting childcare.
Mrs Wood was told that her comments ‘ raised serious concerns about your professional conduct and judgment which potentially brings the school into disrepute’.
Reacting to the governors’ decision, Mrs Wood told Schools Week website: ‘It is very concerning that a headteacher can be suspended for giving a truthful answer to questions posed by members of the public.’
An Ofsted report in 2011 said her relentless pursuit of excellence and improvement ‘ has an extremely positive impact on pupils’.
Mrs Wood is due to leave the school in September but is worried that her success there will now be marred.
geoff Barton, the general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, said that heads should be allowed ‘ to give their perspective and insight to the public via the media’.
grange Park has been approached for comment.
‘I gave a truthful answer’