Acton Timeline

This is the first part of the Acton Timeline. If you have read through the details of the previous two Hillingdon timelines you may be struck by the similarity. Why was it allowed to happen again?





ST VINCENT’S TIME LINE

Time line of some of the issues and correspondence since Mrs Cleugh was appointed Head Teacher at St Vincent’s in Acton in Jan 2006

Between Feb 2006 and July 2006 there was ongoing NUT (National Union of Teachers) involvement regarding the management style and treatment of staff by Mrs Cleugh. Many members of staff were distressed, tearful and isolated by the ‘divide and rule’ management style of Mrs Cleugh.

Feb 06 A member of staff involved the union regarding a threat of resignation from Mrs Cleugh.

Feb 06 The first member of staff to leave was an SMSA who had a child in Year 6 at St Mary’s Hillingdon, Mrs Cleugh’s previous school.

Between March 2006 and July 2006 at least 3 members of staff were off work with stress related illness. Members of staff sought help from the Governors on numerous occasions regarding the inappropriate management style of Mrs Cleugh. This was ongoing until July when 12 members of staff left. Many of the staff felt they had no option but to leave because of the intolerable working conditions and actions taken by Mrs Cleugh since her arrival in January.

April 06 The French Teacher resigned shortly after her first meeting with Mrs Cleugh in February.

April 4th Resignation letter from French Teacher to Chair of Governors raising serious concerns about the unrealistic demands that were placed on the staff. This Letter was not distributed to all Governors, as verified by another Governor in June 2006.

Easter A Year 4 Teacher resigned due to a visa problem. She was escorted out of the building by Mrs Cleugh 15 minutes before lunchtime. She was not allowed to say good bye to her class or other members of staff. She was not given the chance to explain her real reasons for leaving and was forced to lie to the children in the class and say she was unwell and had to go home.

May 25th Resignation letter from Teacher to Chair of Governors concerning constructive dismissal.

July 06 Mrs Cleugh’s confidential P.A. off sick due to stress related illness.

July 5th Letter from parent to Mrs Cleugh concerning treatment of Special Needs child.

July 18th Letter from parent to Teacher (who was leaving) expressing thanks and support and sadness at the school losing such an experienced teacher. cc Mrs Cleugh, Chair of Governors, All other Governors (sent to home addresses as not confident that Chair of Governors would pass the letter on to the other Governors).

July 18th Letter from parents to Mrs Cleugh concerning additional funding not being used for Special Needs child. ‘As parents we have had to fight continuously for support for ----------- and are very unhappy to say that we have lost confidence in the school to provide the care and support that our child needs.’ cc Chair of Governors, Inclusion Governor

July 06 Letter from parent to Chair of Governors concerning known departure of experienced teacher.

July 06 Three Senior Teachers that had resigned requested exit meetings with Governors to inform them of their reason’s for leaving. At the exit meetings three Governors were present (Mrs Cleugh was in the adjoining room). The disclosures were not passed on to other Governors.

July 06 12 members of staff left – 2 Reception Teachers (1 on maternity leave), Year 2 Teacher, 2 Year 4 Teachers, 2 Year 5 Teachers, Teacher SENCO, Teacher Special Needs, SMSA, 2 Admin Assistants.

July 27th Letter from former employee to Chair of Governors concerning treatment as an employee.

July 29th Letter from former employee to Chair of Governors concerning response to letter dated 11th July. ‘I do not feel that I have been fairly or kindly treated by the Governing Body in this matter’.

Sept 06 After 2 Terms of Mrs Cleugh taking up her Headship at the school 14 members of staff had left. The majority left for reasons which were directly connected with Mrs Cleugh.

No members of staff continued working in Catholic Education.

Oct 06 A member of staff issued a Formal Grievance against the Head Teacher Mrs Cleugh. This process took 9 months to complete.

Nov 28th Letter from parent to Mrs Cleugh concerning lack of communication from the school regarding the reorganisation of the classes.

Nov 06 A Petition was signed by over fifty parents (at least 1/3 of all the families) requesting a meeting with the Governors to discus issues that were raised in the recent OFSTED report.

Dec 06 In response to the petition the Governors proposed a meeting on 30th January to discuss the OFSTED report.

Dec 13th Letter from Chair of Governors to all parents cancelling the proposed meeting with the Governors in January (This was based on advice by the Diocese and LEA) and instead proposing to carry out a survey to seek parent’s views.

Dec 17th Letter from parents to Mrs Cleugh concerning continued lack of communication from the school.

Dec 06 6 members of staff left - Year 1 Teacher, Year 4 Teacher, Year 5 Teacher, Classroom Assistant, Special Needs Assistant, SMSA.

Jan 07 After 3 Terms of Mrs Cleugh taking up her Headship at the school 20 members of staff had left. The majority left for reasons which were directly connected with Mrs Cleugh and her management style.

The second part of this timeline will follow shortly.