Parents meet as union leaderdefends principal

Many said they were making plans to remove their child to alternative schools if Dr Scott remained.

And several said they were angered about the way Dr Scott’s return had been handled by the authorities.

However, Regional Officer of the National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT) Fern Turner defended Dr Scott’s return and said she had been treated unfairly.

Mrs Turner said the school was already in a ‘vulnerable state’ before Dr Scott’s return with pupil numbers down and the school deficit increased.

Mrs Turner also expressed concern about the way the whole process had been managed. She pointed out other schools were deemed unsatisfactory in inspectors’ reports, but Dr Scott was the only Principal who had been suspended from her post. She was also the only one from the school suspended and the suspension only took place two months after the report came out,

“The publicity the suspension created also resulted in a number of parents withdrawing their children from the school,” she said.

Mrs Turner went onto say that Dr Scott returned now because it was the end of her suspension. She questioned the whole Northern Ireland Inspection process and said she has written to the ETI and the Minister over what she perceives as a breach of natural justice.

Mrs Turner added that many questions need to be asked and answered as to how the situation has been handled by DENI, ETI and NEELB.

She said NAHT NI believes in and is committed to the Minister John O’Dowd’s policy Every School a Good School.

“However, if this is to be achieved it is essential that there is faith in the system which is used to assess our schools,” she said. “It is also essential that the Inspection Process is open, fair and transparent and that all parties are treated fairly and equitably.”