Trust denies rumours as head leaves

A school trust has moved to dispel rumours over a head teacher’s sudden exit after 30 years.

Dr Anne Bull left Weston All Saints C of E Primary School and Abbot Alphege Academy in Weston on January 8.

A short letter was originally sent to parents of children at the schools by Bath and Mendip Partnership Trust explaining the headteacher had left for “personal reasons”.

But the fact that the teacher, who had taught for three decades at the school, left suddenly and without making a statement, has sparked concern.

Rumours have been circulating among parents and people close to the school and the trust has this week moved to quell them.

Although it was unwilling to expand beyond the ‘personal reasons’ cited for Dr Bull’s departure, the trust has denied that there any financial discrepancies at either school, adding that an external auditor had recently fully checked the accounts.

And it insisted there had been no allegations of bullying between colleagues.

A spokesperson for Bath and Mendip Partnership Trust said: “We appreciate that when a respected senior leader leaves a job at short notice there will be speculation and concern. If people are seeking more information after such an event, then this is a sign of the high regard in which the person who has left is held.

“It is also our hope that people understand that it would not be proper and correct to give personal information out about a former employee.

“That is not our role, and we fully respect their right to privacy.

“What we can confirm, however, is that the trust is not aware of any allegations of bullying between colleagues in any of our academies.

“There are also no investigations into financial irregularity.

“Given we have just had our annual accounts fully audited by an external organisation, as all multi-academy trusts do, and that we hold the wellbeing of our staff as central to the success of our children and wider trust, we would like to assure our community that if there were any concerns then these would be explored and addressed.”

The spokesperson added: “We are deeply proud of what our schools, of which WASPS and AA are very much part, achieve.

“It is right that we acknowledge the efforts and dedication of all our governors, staff and students, past and present, and we are very excited by what the future holds.”

The school converted to an academy in April 2016 and is part of the Bath and Mendip Partnership Trust, which operates 11 other schools.