Head ‘who named strike action tutors’ leaves post
Departure from leading grammar school comes amid investigation into data protection breach
THE head teacher of a leading grammar school has left abruptly after she allegedly sent parents a list of striking teachers in a data protection breach.
Charlotte Jordan, the head of King Edward VI Five Ways School in Birmingham, departed on Tuesday after 18 months in the role.
Her exit came soon after the academy trust that runs the secondary school launched an investigation into a data breach related to industrial action.
The inquiry is understood to relate to claims that parents were emailed names of some teachers who would be absent owing to strike action, according to Birmingham Live, the local news website.
The National Education Union warns that no details of trade union membership or information confirming which members have participated in strike action should be circulated. Personal information “should not be discussed with governors, parents or with colleagues”, it states.
The King Edward VI Academy Trust referred the data breach to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO), which is investigating.
An ICO spokesman said: “People have the right to expect that organisations will handle their personal information securely and responsibly. If an individual has concerns about how their data has been handled, they should raise it with the organisation first, then report them to us if they are not satisfied with the response.
“King Edward VI Foundation and Academy Trust has made us aware of an incident and we are assessing the information provided.” Last year, almost a third of A-levels sat by pupils at the school achieved an A* grade.
A spokesman for the trust said: “We thank Charlotte for her leadership and contribution to the school and the wider foundation. We have appointed an experienced interim head teacher, who until recently was leading a foundation school, to see the school through the next few months until permanent arrangements are made.”
Head teachers have struggled to prepare for industrial action because teachers have no obligation to tell them in advance if they plan to strike.
The majority of schools in England were closed to some or all year groups when teachers walked out on Feb 1.
Data released by the Department for Education yesterday showing the impact of regional strikes this week showed that 7 per cent of schools in England closed on a strike day this week, down from 9 per cent in February. Meanwhile, 43 per cent were closed to some year groups, down from 45 per cent last month.
Gillian Keegan, the Education Secretary, said: “The impacts on school closures were significantly less this time around, and I want to thank our bril- liant head teachers and those teachers who chose not to go on strike as they have ensured more schools stayed open during strikes this week. My invitation to have serious and intensive talks on all areas of this dispute still stands.”
Kevin Courtney, joint general secretary of the NEU, said: “It is only through strike action that Gillian Keegan has been forced to recognise the strength of feeling across the teaching profession.”