Influential teacher not leaving school (From Gazette Series)

Influential teacher not leaving school

GOVERNORS at Cam Woodfield Infant School have moved to quash rumours that an influential teacher is to leave.

The Gazette was contacted last week by concerned parents who feared that a teacher who has helped the school progress since a poor Ofsted report was being "let go" due to falling pupil numbers.

It has emerged, however, that the teacher concerned will remain because a colleague is taking maternity leave.

Inspectors had identified literacy standards at the school as being low but have subsequently risen thanks in part, it is claimed, to the input of the teacher at the centre of the rumours.

The most recent Ofsted report was far more favourable.

Keith Pearce, chairman of the board of governors at the school, told the Gazette: "Cam Woodfield Infants School, like many schools in the country, has experienced a significant drop in pupil numbers and a subsequent fall in the budget for the school.

"This has meant that we have had to reduce our number of classes from six to five and one teacher place has been identified for redundancy.

"This decision is something that the school has not gone into lightly and together with Gloucestershire County Council and teaching unions we have explored all possible avenues to avoid this course of action.

"The teacher affected was selected by a process determined by the county council and agreed with by the teaching unions."

However, Mr Pearce explained that the process could be superseded if another teacher left or took extended leave in the interim.

In this instance, the teacher identified for redundancy would remain because another member of staff ws leaving to have a baby.

Mr Pearce confirmed: "The teacher concerned will carry on teaching at the school in place of a colleague who will be on maternity leave from September."