Calls for return of headteacher (From Haringey Independent)

Calls for return of headteacher

10:00am Saturday 30th August 2008 in News By Elizabeth Pears

A significant improvement in pupil attainment has resulted in renewed calls for a suspended headteacher to resume her post at a Tottenham school.

GCSE results revealed that hardworking pupils at John Loughborough School, in Holcombe Road, had made a remarkable improvement, with the number of pupils achieving at least five A*-C grades leaping from 19 per cent in 2007 to 39 per cent this year.

The 20 per cent improvement was the biggest out of Haringey’s 11 secondary schools, and gave the school a much-needed lifeline after being told it would be shut down if the national target of 30 per cent was not met.

Members of the John Loughborough Parent Teacher Association (PTA) said the results are a positive testament to headteacher, Dr June Alexis,who was suspended by the governing body because the school was underperforming, only three months before Year 11 pupils sat their exams.

She was given her marching orders after more than 30 protesters besieged the school amid concerns her job was in jeopardy and the Seventh Day Adventist faith school was facing closure.

The PTA is now calling for Dr Alexis to be reinstated and for an independent inquiry into the suspension to be opened.

Njeri Yebiemen, chair of John Loughborough’s PTA, said: "The excellent results are further vindication of Dr Alexis and her senior leadership team.

"When parents, children and stakeholders demonstrated against the decision to remove a dedicated and hardworking headteacher, who was clearly driving up standards, we were right to do so."

But in a statement, Haringey councillor Liz Santry, cabinet member for children and young people, attributed the school’s success to the council’s "high level intervention".

The local authority, which helps maintain the school, appointed an Interim Executive Board (IEB) in October 2007 to help revive the school after a damning Ofsted inspection found the school to be "inadequate".

Pastor Sam Davis, chair of the governing body, said: "For the past few years the school has not been performing well.

"Following intervention we have seen a marked improvement, but it’s premature for anyone to claim responsibility.

"We should thank God for these fantastic results and remember it is our students’improvement, and not in-fighting that is important."