A HEADTEACHER has been suspended after she said some of her staff were “sat at home doing nothing” during the coronavirus lockdown.
Pauline Wood, head of Grange Park primary in Sunderland for 15 years, is being investigated for allegedly bringing the school into disrepute during a radio interview.
During the interview on BBC Radio Newcastle, the interviewer read out text messages from parents worried about the level of support schools in general were offering their kids during the Covid-19 crisis.
One suggested the idea all schools were working hard to help pupils was “simply wrong”.
When asked for her opinion, Ms Wood replied: “Yes, some teachers have been in [schools], but many have not been in at any time. Safety is paramount, but don’t make out teachers have all been working flat out.”
She went on to say some teachers were working hard “coming up with the most imaginative, amazing things” but that others “sit at home doing nothing – I won’t defend those people.”
Asked if that included teachers at her school, she said: “Yes, I think it’s time we talked about the elephant in the room.”
Following her comments, the school governors suspended Ms Wood after a complaint was lodged about her “potentially disparaging comments”.
She was told this “raised serious concerns about your professional conduct and judgment…which potentially brings the school into disrepute”.
Mary Hodgson, chairwoman of the school governors, told Schools Week she could not speak to anyone about “personal circumstances as it would be a breach of confidentiality”.
Ms Wood said: “It is very concerning that a headteacher can be suspended for giving a truthful answer to questions posed by members of the public.”
Writing on Twitter, she added: “As head teachers, our job descriptions say we should hold staff to account. Advice in lockdown is not to do disciplinaries, capabilities or appraisals.
“My school will have a new Senior Leadership Team in September so I asked the new Chair to listen to my significant concerns about a minority of staff and my excellent middle leaders presented evidence to her too. Her reply was ‘I just want everyone to be happy’.
“So, paid full time, work less than half time, sod the children. I set up our learning platform, I directed staff to phone parents. You don’t get to be outstanding easily, and it’s even harder to stay there.”
She added that the situation was “disheartening”, especially considering the “great and sustained outcomes under my leadership”.
Under Ms Wood’s 15 year leadership, the school has gone from “inadequate” to “outstanding”.
