Parents cry foul after teachers suspended for air rifle incident
THE Dean of York is facing a revolt at a leading prep school after suspending three senior teachers when three unsecured air rifles were found on the premises.
Alex Donaldson, head of The Minster School – governed by the Chapter of York – and two other members of the senior management team were “frogmarched” out of the building on Friday in front of shocked pupils.
A school governor has also been asked to step down, The Daily Telegraph understands.
The Minster Police, the private force within the cathedral precinct, had found the air rifles locked in a lavatory behind an unused office.
The Dean of York, the Very Rev Vivienne Faull, wrote to parents informing them of the incident and stating that a full investigation was under way.
But parents are outraged over the way the matter has been handled and have claimed that officers had been tipped off.
They criticised the “heavy-handed” manner with which the hugely popular members of staff had been treated.
A “call-out” to parents has gone out urging them to speak out in support of the teachers and many pupils are writing to Dr Faull and to the school to express solidarity with the teachers.
One parent said the air rifles were used for school camps and that written permission was sought from all parents before the children could use them.
They are understood to have been found behind a locked door near the head’s old office. Mr Donaldson, who joined the school in 1988 and has been head since 2004, had recently switched rooms and the office was vacant.
“The whole situation is very odd. Many people think the police had been tipped off,” one parent said.
“You would need a key to get in. The staff are frightened for their jobs and for the school. They are worried someone wants to close it down. We want to see the teachers reinstated.”
Minster School parents last night met with representatives of the Chapter of York Minster, including the Dean, when they were reassured that their children were at no point at actual risk of harm [from the rifles].
Parents voiced overwhelming support for the suspended teachers and pressed for the prompt return of all three after the half-term break.
They received assurances that the concerns raised during the meeting will be acted upon for the well-being of staff and pupils alike.