Primary school 'in meltdown'

TEACHING worries . . . at Werneth Primary School

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A STRUGGLING school is in meltdown after suffering a revolving door of principals ­- and haemorrhaging large numbers of staff.

That's the claim of dozens of parents who say they are gravely concerned about their children's education at Werneth Primary School following the departure of five principals and between 20 to 30 staff in the last two-and-a-half years.

Altogether there have been seven different leadership changes in the last four years ­- including the recent shock departure of principal Dr Mujahid Ali.

We were told three senior members of the leadership team, including former stand-in head and deputy head, Carol Poll, and two special educational needs co-ordinators, had left since academisation as well as around 10 teachers, over 12 teaching assistants and three admin staff.

Parents approached the Chronicle "in desperation" to prompt answers and action from the academy's sponsors, Bright Tribe, which took over the running of the 550-pupil school in February, 2014.

They expressed deep dismay at the loss of Dr Ali ­- shortlisted for head teacher of the year at the Times Educational Supplement Schools Awards in 2014 ­- who announced his departure just two days before the end of the school year in July as well as long-standing governor and chair of governors, Jenny Colley, who resigned in June.

We were also told the school's board of governors ­- which included Oldham councillor, Shoab Akhtar, was disbanded without their or the parents' knowledge in July.

The Chronicle understands an OFSTED inspection is imminent at Werneth Primary and parents are planning a petition of no confidence in the Stockport-based academy trust which also has seven schools in Suffolk, Essex and Cumbria.

One worried parent, who has two children at Werneth, said: "Parents do not have any confidence in the sponsor whatsoever and as we are their only school in this area we feel there is no accountability.

"The school is in meltdown due to the number of principals we've had and the loss of so many teaching staff and teaching assistants, some of whom were very valued and experienced members of staff who have left or have been forced out. You can count on one hand the number of original staff left.

"It has left the children very unsettled and the morale of staff is low. We are very worried about the effect on our children's education.

"My little boy went into his new class to find out his teacher had also recently resigned so he had a new teacher to get used and he was upset about that.

"All the principals who come in have their own agendas but if their face doesn't fit I believe they are forced out also.

"We are very disappointed Dr Ali has left because parents could finally see the positive changes he had made and had in place for the coming academic year.

"Now we have another principal coming in making more changes.

"Werneth was a good school. It's been around for 100 years but we are very worried for the future."

Before academisation, Werneth had two temporary headteachers following the retirement of Sarah Holroyd in 2012 who had taught at the school for over 30 years.

Since Bright Tribe took over in 2014 there have been three "interim" principals and two permanent appointments both of who lasted just a matter of months.

Back in May the Chronicle spoke to Dr Ali who told of his incredible enthusiasm to turn the "requires improvement" school around and vowed it would be good or outstanding in a year.

Despite his pedigree and a reputation for transforming struggling schools he was saying his goodbyes just two months later.

Newly appointed principal, Conrad North, has held forums throughout the week to meet with parents but no representative from Bright Tribe has been present.

Around 50 parents turned up to a meeting on Tuesday.

One of them told us: "We weren't happy there was no-one from Bright Tribe there to answer our questions and felt unhappy dealing with someone who has no experience in the schools' history.

"The trust apparently got in touch with Mr North through an agency three weeks ago and asked him to be interim principal while they advertised the role. When we asked why there wasn't anyone from Bright Tribe he said he was representing them but he's only worked for them for a matter of days.

"When we asked why Dr Ali left he said he wasn't able to answer but all he could say was whenever anyone is appointed they have a probationary period.

"At the end parents felt it was a futile meeting and our questions weren't answered."

On the school website Bright Tribe say they are carrying out a review of governance arrangements in their academies and instead of current governing bodies they are structuring regional "Accountability Review and Challenge Groups".