Kentish Gazette Canterbury & District
Girls’ governors resign as Boys’ head takes over
Four members of the Langton Girls’ governing body have stepped down in the first week under its new head teacher.
Chairman Alisdair Chisholm and his deputy Mike Blanning quit almost immediately after the appointment of Boys’ Langton head Matthew Baxter as interim boss last Monday.
Dr Baxter is replacing outgoing head teacher Jane Robinson, who formally leaves at the end of April amid allegations of bullying and financial irregularities connected to the girls’ school’s aborted attempt to become an academy last year.
Mr Chisholm and Mr Blanning were followed out of the door by fellow governors Les Craggs and Dr Chris Turner.
Dr Baxter insists his focus is now on the future of the two schools: “We will be looking to establish trust between the schools as we link up the two management teams and a create a strong sense of identity.
“Between the two schools we can create the finest grammar school provision in the country.”
Dr Baxter, who has led the Boys Langton since 2001, says the departure of Mr Chisholm and Mr Blannings was a certainty following the appointment of a new head at the girls’ school.
He is hoping to hold a governors’ meeting at the school.
Asked about problems facing the girls’ school, Dr Baxter said: “Yes, there are issues, but there are a lot of things I can’t go into at the moment.
“There is a shortfall in the quality of the buildings, especially for sport and dance, and there’s no artificial grass pitch.
“But I have been extremely impressed by the girls at the school and I have received many positive messages from their parents. The staff are also very positive about the future.
“It’s been a period of turbulence. But I run schools and I think we have a chance to do something truly great here.”
The two Langtons had a single governing body until 1990.
But last week Dr Baxter, who has a four-term contract as interim head, insisted it was too early to discuss a potential merger between the schools.
In his introductory letter to girls’ school parents, however, he writes: “The opportunities to share excellent practice, to work together and to improve the quality of both schools cannot be ignored.”