Questions asked as academy head departs
At the helm of Stockley school for less than a year
PARENTS of pupils attending Stockley Academy are demanding answers after the departure of the school’s headteacher, less than a year after his appointment.
The reason for the departure of Leo Gilbert, who joined the secondary school, in Yiewsley, in May 2015, remains a mystery, but parents are annoyed that some were informed by their children rather than be offered an explanation by the school’s chair of governors.
Mr Gilbert was appointed as headteacher just before an Ofsted inspection, in June 2015, put the school into special measures after a damning ‘inadequate’ report.
But the then newlyappointed head was motivated to make changes and said he was confident he could get the academy out of special measures after a year, and hoped for an outstanding rating in three or four years.
A petition was set up at the start of the new school year in September, which gathered almost 500 signatures, railing against school uniform changes, with obligatory uniformed bags in place.
One parent said they believe the head was removed on Monday April 25 but the “academy is tight-lipped about why”.
They said: “I thought he was a very good headteacher and I thought he was starting to stabilise the academy and move it forwards.”
Other parents took to social media to find answers, with some posting on Stockley Academy’s Facebook page. One wrote: “Have just sent an email to the school asking for an explanation regarding Mr Gilbert’s sudden departure. I should not have had to do this. A swift statement of explanation from the chair of governors is needed immediately and I think a meeting for parents with the governors ASAP to discuss our obvious concerns about what is going on at Stockley Academy. My son is about to sit GCSEs which could determine his future and it seems to me the governors couldn’t care less! I’m angry!”
Another posted: “We have heard about Mr Gilbert, it would be good if the parents were told instead of our children telling us.”
The Department for Education, to whom the school answers, say the issue is a matter for the school itself.
Stockley Academy has been contacted for a comment.