St. Joseph’s Catholic Primary School in Malmesbury, Wiltshire, has been accused of racism, bullying, and administrative failures that have led to a mass exodus of teachers, governors, and pupils. Here’s the full story.
Headteacher Is Faced With Alarming Allegations
One of the most alarming allegations centered around the headteacher, Sue Woods, who took over leadership in late 2019.
In November 2021, she allegedly used a racial slur, referring to a group of black children with the N-word.
Since Woods assumed the role of headteacher, the school has witnessed a staggering 22 staff members leaving, including the assistant headteacher.
Exit interviews reveal that many of the departing staff pointed to Woods’ behavior as a key reason for their departure.
She Created a Toxic Environment
Shockingly, insider sources suggest that at least two staff members were on the brink of suicide due to the toxic environment.
As if these allegations were not troubling enough, the school has also suffered a significant decline in pupil numbers over the past four years.
What was once a thriving institution with approximately 150 pupils is now facing a bleak future, with only four children set to attend the reception class in September.
The concerns do not stop there.
Horrifying Ofsted Reports
An Ofsted Parent View questionnaire conducted earlier this year showed that a staggering 82 percent of parents were dissatisfied with the school’s ability to support children with special educational needs and disabilities.
Additionally, 45 percent of participating parents expressed their unwillingness to recommend the school to others.
The senior leadership team reportedly failed to adequately address the issue, leaving the victim’s parents in distress.
Upon investigation, it was revealed that no report had ever been made to the police about the incident.
En Masse Resignations
The school’s governing body has not been spared from controversy either, with more than half of its members resigning in June.
The board’s attempts to investigate the allegations against the headteacher were allegedly thwarted by Wiltshire Council, leading to their collective decision to step down.
The community is demanding accountability from both Wiltshire Council and the Diocese, as they fear the school’s complete collapse if these issues remain unaddressed.
Wiltshire Police has confirmed that they are currently investigating an allegation related to staff conduct, though it does not involve children at the school
Stakeholders Are Demanding an Enquiry
Nevertheless, many stakeholders are demanding a comprehensive inquiry to shed light on the full extent of the problems at St. Joseph’s.
Andy Brown, Corporate Director of Resources and Deputy Chief Executive of Wiltshire Council has assured that they have robust policies and processes in place to handle incidents reported to them.
He Refused to Serve Entitled Tourists That Cut in Line, Much to the Delight of Onlookers
The post Racist Headteacher’s ‘N-Word’ Remark and Toxic Work Culture Sparks Exodus of Pupils and Teachers From a Wiltshire School first appeared on The Net Worth Of.
Featured Image Credit: Shutterstock / fizkes. The people shown in the images are for illustrative purposes only, not the actual people featured in the story.
Source: Daily Mail