Union concern over headteacher return

School hopes to improve following report

A HEADTEACHER has returned to a Hinckley school following an eight month absence amid allegations of bullying which an investigation found no evidence of.

Senior staff at Holliers Walk Primary School, including headteacher Cath Alison, were accused of prolonged and systematic bullying by former teachers and staff.

Mrs Alison has been absent since November due to ill health and is being eased back into her role over the next few months, governors said.

The National Union of Teachers (NUT) said the return of the headteacher is “concerning” and spoke of a “fear factor” among current staff.

Leicestershire NUT official Greg Jones said: “It is very worrying that the head has returned to the school as the bullying could continue.

“We are aware a fear factor still remains at the school and some staff are scared of speaking out against the regime.

“In my meetings with NUT members it was clear that, although the atmosphere had improved slightly, staff still were frightened and feeling vulnerable.

“There are still staff who feel that Holliers is not a good school to work in and some have resigned this term - one without even having a job to go to.”

Rae Cresswell, chair of governors, said “bullying will not be tolerated” and urged staff members to raise any concerns.

The school commissioned Leicestershire County Council to investigate the allegations last year after more than 30 teachers and staff quit in two-and-a-half years.

County Hall spoke to 35 current staff members and one former worker and found there was “no evidence of deliberate bullying”, but relationships between senior management needed to improve to raise morale.

Mrs Cresswell added: “The school has reviewed its policies, which re-iterate that bullying of any kind will not be tolerated in the school.

“Staff should report any issues to the chair of governors. The NUT has not raised any concerns directly with the school.”

Mr Jones previously called the report a “whitewash” and said Mrs Alison was also involved in similar bullying allegations at her previous school, Swinford Primary, in Lutterworth.

A joint letter signed by teachers and staff at her former school read: “In a small village school with four classrooms, nine out of 15 members of staff left due to stress and ill health within two years.”

The letter was sent to Leicestershire County Council who were investigating the Holliers Walk allegations at the time.

County Hall confirmed none of the staff from Swinford Primary School were spoken to during the Holliers Walk investigation.

A spokesman said: “We can confirm that we received a letter from ex-staff at Swinford Primary School, but we want to make it clear that scope of the review commissioned from us by the governors at Holliers Walk was to look at concerns about school leadership there.”

He added: “We will continue to monitor progress and we expect communications between the leadership and the staff at Holliers Walk to improve. We’re also continuing to support the school in its move to the former Mount Grace Academy site.”

Following the report, Mrs Cresswell outlined 38 areas where the school hopes to improve, which included the “governors increasingly holding school to account”.

She said in a letter to staff: “The governing body wholly accepts the findings that some actions were taken which impacted negatively on staff relationships.” THE PRESIDENT of the local business lobbying group has spoken out on the result of the EU referendum.

Rosemary Wright, leader of the Hinckley and District Chamber of Trade, says the vote has been cast and now it is time to move forward.

The chamber is nonpolitical and Rosemary said some members would have voted remain while others went for leave.

The organisation was visited by MEP Emma McClarkin in February who during her talk revealed she was campaigning for an out vote, effectively doing herself out of a job.

Rosemary added: “We have not, however, polled our members to get accurate statistics as to how they voted. No one could have anticipated the turmoil that has gone on since. It is generally accepted in the country that many small businesses favour leave due to the EU bureaucracy and red tape and some larger businesses favour remaining in the EU due to uncertainty issues.

“However the chamber view is that there has been a referendum and a democratic decision has been made by the people of the UK. The Hinckley and District Chamber of Trade call upon the authorities to stop the whingeing recriminations, to ensure that a swift resolution to carry out the referendum mandate begins as soon and as vigorously as possible to protect the well being of the country and its business community. We are optimistic that the future of local business which is creative and hard working will be successful.”