New legislation for schools is required

RIGHT-THINKING people will find it extraordinary that a head teacher who sent a large number of wholly inappropriate messages to girl pupils should still be in post.

If it happened in a state school, one would like to think the governors would dismiss the individual concerned forthwith.

The same outcome should, without question, come about in an independent school.

That Toby Belfield, the head of independent Ruthin School, remains in his position is a disgrace.

A glaring gap in the governance of schools in Wales has been exposed by this case.

The Education Minister does not have the power to dismiss a head teacher, but can withdraw the school’s accreditation to run fulltime education courses.

While it is understandable that Ministers should not have the power to make decisions about the employment of individual school staff, it seems wrong that there is no mechanism a Minister can have recourse to in unusual circumstances.

The Welsh Government should be able to refer the matter to a regulator charged with investigating such cases and deciding whether it is appropriate for a transgressor to keep their job.

Independent schools get considerable tax advantages as a result of their charitable status – in effect a public subsidy.

But regardless of that, organisations that provide education courses should be subject to wideranging and robust regulation.

It cannot be right that a headteacher who engages in inappropriate behaviour with pupils should not be subject to disciplinary sanction but are allowed to keep their job.

We nevertheless believe it would be onerous and disruptive if Ruthin School were stripped of its right to educate children on a fulltime basis because of its failure to dispense with the services of its headteacher.

The aim should be to remove Mr Belfield, not to shut down the school.

However this matter is resolved, it is clear that new legislation relating to the governance of schools both in the public and independent sectors is needed.

Instead of the Education Minister being put into a position where she feels obliged to issue threats to a school as a last resort, there should be a clear regulatory route to be followed so the matter can be dealt with in a civilised way.