As promised when the letter to the Diocese and Governors of St Vincent’s was posted on the blog, we are now posting part of the timeline of the dreadful catalogue of events that occurred at St Mary’s in Hillingdon after Mrs Cleugh arrived.
In any other environment there would be an outcry. Sadly the reality is that Mrs Cleugh appears to be answerable to nobody, whilst the lives and wellbeing of good, decent people are thrown into disarray. The effects of these actions also have profound effects on the children involved.
Read the list and draw your own conclusions.
The St Vincent’s Timeline will follow shortly.
ST MARY’S TIME LINE
Time line of some of the issues and correspondence since Mrs Cleugh was appointed Head Teacher at St Mary’s in Hillingdon in Jan 2002
Jan 02 The first member of staff resigned - Special Needs Assistant.
Feb 02 The second member of staff left - P/T Classroom Assistant who was also a Parent Governor.
Feb 8th Letter from Special Needs Assistant to Mrs Cleugh concerning Special Needs children & their provision in the school.
Feb 13th Account from two Special Needs Assistants concerning treatment by Mrs Cleugh.
Feb 27th Account from two Special Needs Assistants concerning treatment by Deputy Head.
Mar 02 Governors called a meeting for all staff to the hear concerns and evidence concerning Mrs Cleugh and her management style.
Mar 02 3 members of staff left – ALL Special Needs Assistants.
Mar 8th Resignation letter to Chair of Governors from special needs Assistant ‘I have been signed off by my G.P. with nervous exhaustion.’ cc Mrs Cleugh, GMB Union
Mar 22nd Letter from a Special Needs Assistant to Chair of Governors concerning Special Needs children & their provision in school. cc GMB Union
Mar 22nd Letter from GMB to Chair of Governors concerning unrest in school since the arrival of Mrs Cleugh.
Mar 22nd Letter from a Special Needs Assistant to Chair of Governors concerning bullying of staff by Mrs Cleugh.’ ‘In my opinion staff are so demoralised but are scared of being found talking to one another as further bullying is likely to occur as a result, so whispering in the corners has become commonplace.’ cc GMB Union
April 02 Diocese called a meeting for staff.
May 24th Letter from GMB Union to Chair of Governors concerning P.A’s reasons for leaving. cc Personnel Services to Schools (Hillingdon), Diocese Westminster
May 31st Letter from P.A. to GMB asking for legal advice concerning constructive dismissal.
June 9th Mrs Cleugh’s P.A. resigned.
June 20th Letter from Chair of Governors to P.A. giving reasons for not being able to fully apply grievance procedure. cc Personnel Services to Schools (LB Hillingdon), Diocese Westminster, GMB Union
July 02 5 members of staff left - Reception Teacher, Year 5 Teacher, Special Needs Assistant Classroom Assistant (Staff Governor and Parent), Welfare Assistant.
Aug 2nd Resignation letter from Classroom Assistant to Chair of Governors - Job untenable, job changed after incident involving her own child in the school. cc Personnel Services to Schools (LB Hillingdon), Diocese Westminster, GMB Union
Sept 02 After 2 Terms of Mrs Cleugh taking up her Headship at the school 11 members of staff had left. The majority left for reasons which were directly connected with Mrs Cleugh.
Nov 17th Letter from three former employees to Director of Education Hillingdon stating grave concerns and asking for an Independent Investigation. cc Secretary of State for Education, MP for Uxbridge, Leader of Education Committee (Hillingdon), GMB Union, Secretary - Unison Hillingdon Branch.
Nov 24th Letter to GMB Union concerning letter Nov 17th explaining that one former employee was too frightened, upset and stressed to sign letter.
Nov 27th Letter from Diocese Westminster noting concerns in letter sent Nov 17th ‘will respond in due course’.
Dec 4th Letter from M.P. acknowledging receipt of enclosures regarding St. Mary’s.
Dec 12th Letter from Hillingdon Social Services to all staff at St Mary’s concerning feedback from visit to school (received anonymous referral from within the school) concluding that criteria for formal Child Protection process not met.
Dec 13th Letter to M.P. - no response from letter to Director of Education Hillingdon (Nov 17th ) which raises general level of unease, and fear within the staff and parental community.
Dec 19th Letter from M.P. concerning arrangement to visit St. Mary’s in January.
Dec 02 3 members of staff left - Finance Assistant, Year 1 Teacher, Year 2 Teacher.
Dec 20th Letter from Department for Education and Skills (passed on by Secretary of State) states governing body has legal responsibility for the general conduct of the school.
Dec 23rd Letter (received Jan 10th) from Director of Education Hillingdon – ‘Your letter has served to help us focus and engineer support to all members of the school community and I should like to thank you for that’.
Jan 03 After 3 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.
The second section will be posted later.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
4 comments:
Dear Governors,
So you made a mistake ....
You hired a confidence trickster ....
NOW GET RID OF HER - it is within your power and it would go a long way to restoring some confidence in some of you.
The game is up, the show is over, and her hand has been shown. We may be very insignificant people but even such folk are not fooled. Of course we forgive you but PLEASE DO WHAT IS RIGHT.
Everyone around here wants peace and harmony but without justice this is not possible. The lies have been exposed and the dirty laundry is lying outside for all to see. This concerns many of us parents deeply and we implore you to launder and tidy away.
We want a school with good, happy teachers who view employment at this school as a joy. There will, however, be ongoing unrest it seems if the situation continues.
Over to you, governors, apparently you have the power to rid us all of her. Just do it ... but it will initially require some courage. Take it from the parents, it gets easier once you start.
We wait and watch very intently. You can do it.
Hello from Teresa Roscow
I am appalled at this litany of bullying AND litany of authorities just not doing their job. I have read this post again with such sadness. Sadness for the individuals concerned, their families and colleagues, the parents - it runs into hundreds of people who have been affected. I have seen this information several times now, and it appalls me each time.
Two thoughts - if anyone reading the timeline thinks that it is exaggerated or even made up, you can see the individual letters for yourself. I can arrange this, if you e-mail me on teresa@stratlink.co.uk. (I don't have it myself, but I know where the file can be seen)
Second thought, echoing the post above - Governors - I am sure you acted in good faith, how could you have known what Mrs C was like, as it is clear that the Diocese covered it all up, and Hillingdon LEA for their own reasons might not have given you the full picture. But PLEASE - you find yourselves in a hole, stop digging! Mrs C IS answerable to YOU, YOU are her employer, please ask her to explain the information that appears on this Blog.
I am new to this blog but it is obvious that the governing body
are not acting for the good of the
school only themselves,or their
children or some other self praising motive.
As this is seems to be well proven
i suggest legal action againts
them either the whole body or
individually as the excuse of
acting on behalf of the body would
not be an acceptable defence in
law without written documentation/ proof from their meetings.
Just to let you know, you're not the only school going through this. Oaklands Primary School has had a new head since Easter 2007, Miss Michelle Moore, who has managed to create such an atmosphere of fear and intimidation that 43 members of staff- both teaching and non-teaching- have signed a letter of no confidence in her.Signed statements have been handed to the three major unions, and the Chair of Governors recommended her suspension.
And despite this, no-one from the Local Authority has spoken to staff.In fact, the Chair was apparently asked to apologise to the Head, and told that he was too closely involved with the case!
Meanwhile, Miss Moore seems totally unabashed.
Unions have told staff that the way in which she has behaved amount to professional misconduct, but is anything done? NO- it seems that the way in which Miss Moore acts is in line with many other heads in the borough of Ealing, and has the tacit approval of LEA officials.
And the worst thing about it is that the unions seem to have no will or power to do anything either.
Post a Comment