The new chairman of governors at Bath's Oldfield School has pledged to rebuild the faith of staff, parents and the community in its leadership.
The Kelston Road academy is reeling from criticism from Ofsted, city MP Don Foster, unions, and Bath and North East Somerset Council about the way it has been run in recent years.
The secondary school has some of the best academic results in the region, but the relationship between long-serving head Kim Sparling and its governors has been under heavy scrutiny.
Last night, the remaining governors forced the resignation of chair Julie Cope in the wake of concern from Ofsted that the board was 'over-reliant' on information from Mrs Sparling and had failed to hold her properly to account over her handling of complaints and grievances.
Mrs Cope is now vice-chair, with management consultant Stuart Weatherall taking her place as chair.
The Department for Education has spent three days this week looking at the school's governance issues and sifting through a dossier of information, some of which led to a highly critical - but never published - detailed inspection report from Ofsted.
The dossier includes concerns about the treatment of staff past and present, with unions preparing a mass grievance action against the school.
In a message posted on the school's website this afternoon, Mr Weatherall says: "Recent weeks have been difficult for Oldfield School and we, the governing body, recognise the vital importance of regaining and thereafter retaining the trust of students, parents, staff and the wider community. We are determined to address the issues facing the school, including those arising from the OFSTED inspection in December 2013, and subsequently, by staff and others. We will be placing the safeguarding and achievement of students at the centre of everything we do and will be engaging with parents, staff, trade unions, the local authority and others to understand their concerns and take appropriate action to address them. Informed by the findings of the recent Department for Education/Education Funding Agency review we will be developing an action plan which we will share with you."
He says that the governors will be developing a stronger anti-bullying and anti-harassment policy "dealing specifically with our staff" and revising grievance procedures.
There will also be an independent staff attitude survey.
There have been complaints that mail to governors - including Mrs Cope - had been intercepted but Mr Weatherall says all letters addressed to him will only be opened by him.
He adds: "The school is very fortunate that, despite recent distractions, we have benefitted from an able and committed staff who have concentrated on providing the first class education that their own high standards demand and our students deserve. On my visits to the school I am always impressed by the confidence and enthusiasm for learning demonstrated by the students. Levels of academic attainment are unquestionably outstanding. I am heartened by the commitment of all the governors and leadership team who, I know, are working hard to ensure we provide the leadership and support needed to restore the school's reputation, capitalise on the schools many strengths and ensure that Oldfield School is genuinely a great place to learn and work."
Full text of his letter
Dear Oldfield Parents and Staff
At a meeting of the Oldfield School Governing Body on 13 March I was appointed as Chair to succeed Julie Cope with immediate effect. Julie has been a committed member of the Governing Body over a number of years and her resolute leadership as Chair was invaluable during, and after, the school's transition to an academy. I am particularly grateful that she has agreed to stay as Vice Chair (with the Governors' unanimous approval), at least until the end of this academic year, in order to support me
Recent weeks have been difficult for Oldfield School and we, the Governing Body, recognise the vital importance of regaining and thereafter retaining the trust of students, parents, staff and the wider community. We are determined to address the issues facing the school, including those arising from the OFSTED inspection in December 2013, and subsequently, by staff and others. We will be placing the safeguarding and achievement of students at the centre of everything we do and will be engaging with parents, staff, Trade Unions, the Local Authority and others to understand their concerns and take appropriate action to address them. Informed by the findings of the recent Department for Education/Education Funding Agency review we will be developing an action plan which we will share with you. Some measures however, have already been taken to give greater reassurance to staff and parents:
We will have an anti-bullying and harassment policy dealing specifically with our staff and clarifying our commitment to an environment at Oldfield, where all staff and students feel valued and able to contribute fully without fear of harassment or bullying.
We are revising our grievance procedures to reflect best practice.
We are engaging HR consultants to conduct a staff attitude survey in order to get a clearer understanding of views across the whole school staff. This will also allow the Governing Body to benchmark progress against some of the actions which I anticipate will be in our action plan. When complete, the results of the survey will be published, with the anonymity of contributors preserved.
All mail addressed to the Chair of the Governors will be personally opened by me.
The school is very fortunate that, despite recent distractions, we have benefitted from an able and committed staff who have concentrated on providing the first class education that their own high standards demand and our students deserve. On my visits to the school I am always impressed by the confidence and enthusiasm for learning demonstrated by the students. Levels of academic attainment are unquestionably outstanding. I am heartened by the commitment of all the governors and leadership team who, I know, are working hard to ensure we provide the leadership and support needed to restore the school's reputation, capitalise on the schools many strengths and ensure that Oldfield School is genuinely a great place to learn and work. I will keep you updated on our progress.
Yours ever
Stuart Weatherall
Chairman of Governors
