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MP asks Government to help resolve Calday grammar school dispute

10:10am Monday 7th February 2011 in News By Stephanie Cureton

MP Esther McVey MP Esther McVey

WIRRAL West MP Esther McVey is calling on the Government to help resolve the problems surrounding a top Wirral school.

She led a debate in Parliament regarding the ongoing dispute at Calday Grange Grammar School.

The Conservative MP is to meet with schools minister Nick Gibb in a bid to "set a path to resolve the situation" at the West Kirby school.

Ms McVey's call comes in the wake of a recent school survey where more than half of parents were not happy with the way it was being run.

The findings showed that 63% of those quizzed did not agree that the school was "well-led and well managed" by governors.

And last September, angry parents rallied to demand the board of governors step down following the year-long suspension of headteacher Andrew Hall.

Mr Hall was suspended in 2009 but has yet to appear before a disciplinary panel due to his ill health.

Now, Ms McVey wants a resolution to the trust school's problems.

Hailing Calday Grange as "one of the best schools on the Wirral", she asked for more transparency for parents and teachers when there is a dispute between a headteacher and governors.

She also asked what steps the Government plan to take when there is such an issue.

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Ms McVey said: "Clearly this dispute has raised many issues surrounding governance, and cannot be allowed to continue.

"I am therefore absolutely delighted that following today’s debate the minister has agreed to meet with me to look at all governance issues for schools across the UK and in particular to set a path to resolve the situation at Calday Grange Grammar School.”

Comments(5)

hugo2008 says...
7:12pm Mon 7 Feb 11

Bring this whole sorry sick mess to a conclusion, either sack the Headmaster outright, or reistate the headmaster with immediat effect.

Scrap the whole bunch of so called governers, in particular Mrs Twemlow, and let the due course of legal justice take its course.

The only important people involved in this whole debate are the pupils, and it is their education or the possible future for these boys, those involved are all playing with, what an absolute disgrace, end it now.

The damage done to this remarkable centre of education for hundreds of years, is now being damaged and imparied by power mad egomaniacs having a clash of personalities. End It .

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Dantealighieri says...
9:05pm Mon 7 Feb 11

Hugo2008- I have asked you before to explain to me why you think the headteacher Mr Hall, should be sacked. If you are aware of a reason, then let the whole world know. Unless you are completly stupid, I think you will find the problem is, as expressed by the parents, the governors. Maybe you go along with 2 of the apparent 13 reasons the governors gave for Mr Halls suspension. One, that he failed to report a foetus in a jar!! Two, that he was part of a bullying regime!!! That's a laugh. To be accused by these governors of being part of a bullying regime is the equivalent of Hitler and the Third Reich accusing Neville Chamberlain of being a threat to world peace.

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hugo2008 says...
10:37pm Mon 7 Feb 11

Dante: The most important people in that school are not the staff nor the so called Governors, it is quite clearly the pupils and the parents of pupils.

I want the whole issue brought to a head without delay, if the Board of Governors believe the headmaster to be unfit to hold the position, then sack him and let the law take its course.

If they are not sure of their ground or position then reinstate him with immediate effect, this should necessitate the complete resignation of the Board especially the Chairperson,
either way the situation can and must be brought to a speedy conclusion.

I like many others do not have all the information as to why this situation has developed, but positive action would mean that both the board of governors and the headmaster would have the opportunity to disclose all the information in a court of law with no secret manipulation behind the scenes shenanigans taking place.

The collateral damage to the school and the reputation of the school has already been damaged, and further damage is likely the longer this whole distasteful episode is allowed to continue, and that is unforgivable.

That is why I urge all those involved to end it now one way or the other, for the sake of the establishment and its long history, plus outstanding reputation, and the most importantly the pupils long term prospects.

No single individual or small group of so called governors who have allowed this situation to fester for so long is any where near as important. And they should know it.

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Caldeian says...
7:36pm Thu 10 Feb 11

What is quite clear is that this Board of Governors is no longer "fit for purpose". They have allowed the Chair of Governors to harass and bully senior members of staff, allowed her to make fraudulent and mendacious accusations against the Head - stringing out his suspension from October to April, by drip-feeding accusations each time it became clear that there was no substance in these accusations. Only when the stress of his enforced absence led to a breakdown in health did she move towards a hearing. She has misled parents and staff, she has alienated Trust partners such as the Univerity of Liverpool, she has mounted vendettas against parents who have asked her to explain her actions, she has wasted thousands of pounds of school finances on unnecessary legal fees. If she had one ounce of integrity she would resign. There are parent governor elections coming soon. All parent governors, after the resounding vote of no confidence, should now step down and allow a full election of all parent governor positions. All parents of Calday should contact the Governors urging their resignation. The more voices raised the harder it will be for the Governors to ignore them. Now is the time for concerted action

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hugo2008 says...
11:19pm Thu 10 Feb 11

Well stated Caldeian of Hoylake, come on Parents, Grand Parents, Aunties, Uncles, Cousins, Gardians, get busy and lobby your elected representatives, bring the whole farce to a speedy conclusion, you owe it to the pupils, regardless of who is right or wrong.
The important thing is make your views known.

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