Headteacher under fire over staff suspension
THE headteacher of a strike-plagued school is under mounting pressure to explain how a suspended teacher was treated prior to a crucial Health and Safety Executive inspection.
Andrew Fell suspended North Huddersfield Trust School PE teacher Louise Lewis in October – an action which lead to two days of strike action by teachers last month with more to come this month.
The National Education Union allege Ms Lewis was suspended simply for carrying out her role as a rep and has been victimised by Mr Fell.
The 38-year-old, mum-of-three’s formal disciplinary hearing began last week and is due to resume today.
In a letter to parents and carers dated Thursday, April 29, Mr Fell apologised for any disruption to children’s education the industrial action was causing.
And then turning to Health and Safety issues he wrote: “One aspect that may have drawn your attention is Health and Safety, particularly in light of Covid.
“As a school, all risk assessments were ratified by the governing body and shared with the local authority and trade unions.
“These were updated in line with national and local guidance and satisfied every criteria.
“In October 2020, we received a visit from the Health and Safety Executive – this was advisory in line with planned visits to many educational establishments – which confirmed that what we had in place was effective.”
But Mike Forster who is representing Ms Lewis, a mum-of-three, on behalf of Huddersfield Trades Council, said: “If Mr Fell is so confident of his claim about the Health and Safety inspection, we challenge him to release its findings.
“We understand their visit was on the same day Louise was suspended and escorted from the premises.
“Perhaps Mr Fell can also explain why he needed to have her removed from school just before their visit.
“Parents should demand to seek for an independent investigation by the governors into what is happening within the school, (formerly Fartown High School), to ensure the safety of their students.”
Further strike days are currently scheduled for May 5, 6, 11, 12 and 13.
Since the strike was first mooted neither the headteacher nor the chairman of governors, Phil Weston, has spoken to The Examiner.