Hardline head threatens to sue moaning parents
A HEADMISTRESS whose staff have filed sixteen grievances since september has threatened to sue parents after they complained about her leadership.
Relationships between staff, parents and governors are said to have become ‘toxic’ since michelle Brindle took over Bollin Primary school in Bowdon, Cheshire.
the row reached a head this week when teachers staged a strike. Around 70 parents also protested outside the school.
Problems are said to have begun when mrs Brindle paid for a mock ofsted inspection. it led to new rules being brought in which teachers say greatly increased their workload.
Children reported seeing teachers crying in corridors, and a long-serving member of staff was allegedly suspended.
Fourteen teachers and two assistants lodged grievances with the governing body, which are so far unresolved. eight governors also resigned. Worried parents then set up a WhatsApp online messaging groupgoingwas heardthe the warningBut internet,rated parentson whentheyto sheat ‘outstanding’discusswerethe she mrsof wouldall school,sent talking Brindle,450 whatsue lettersin pupils, whichif 2007. over washer 40, to reputationmediawhichshe wrote:are posts damagingwas‘A have number harmed. beento of the made social reputationschool. someof the are head potentiallyand the libellous vulnerable and to legal leave action.’ individuals
Businessman Howard morris spoke to the mail after hearing about problems at Bollin. He claimed his wife, Caroline, was driven out of her job as deputy head school, of Golbornemrs Brindle’sst thomas, previous in Wigan, by her ‘bullying’ style. He compared mrs Brindle to Roald dahl’s miss trunchbull, who terrorises the school in matilda. ‘ she is threatening and a bully – she’s almost like miss trunchbull,’ he said. sinead Barry, 45, who has two daughters at the school, said issues began within weeks of mrs Brindle’s arrival. she said: ‘Children were coming home saying teachers were crying.’ Kate mazzag, 44, has taken her daughter out of school after a teacher was allegedly suspended. she said: ‘When we asked questions we were told not to say she was suspended, but “absent”.’ erin Cherneski, 41, whose son is at the school, says mrs Brindle has made a ‘toxic atmosphere’. on thursday, 17 of Bollin’s 21 teachers walked out in protest. By yesterday 889 people had signed a ‘no confidence’ petition and trafford Council last week issued a warning about the way the school is run. National Peter Union middleman,of teachers, from saidthe members had met with the head, but reached no compromise. Last night mrs Brindle said: ‘i am 100 per cent committed to the school, and astounded at the behaviour of a small group of vocal parents.’