THE woman in charge at Winterbourne International Academy has apologised to staff and parents for ‘getting it wrong’.

Beverley Martin, who has come under fire from teachers for introducing a rigid modular curriculum, increased workloads, persistent testing of pupils and failing to listen to staff since taking over in April, said she was sorry for the situation at the highly-regarded academy which led to three days of industrial action in the first two weeks of term.

Addressing a packed meeting of concerned parents and staff on Monday (September 21), Ms Martin said: “We are sorry we got into this situation but we have got to move forward.”

Ms Martin was speaking publicly for the first time since 100 members of the National Union of Teachers (NUT) and National Association of Schoolmasters/Union of Women Teachers (NASUWT) went on strike in an unprecedented move in the South West.

She said herself and academy principal Richard Haupt, and Yate International Academy principal Paul Skipp, were not responsible for an Ofsted report which gave the academy a notice to improve having only taken over two days before.

Parents at the tense meeting expressed a variety of concerns particularly for Year 11 students who will sit exams in seven months, Year 7 students who have had a 'traumatic' start to their secondary school education and the lack of communication about the strikes. Some showed support for the new leadership team while others defended teachers for standing up for their profession.

One parent said: “The leadership team has only been in since April 1. We had a bad Ofsted and they were brought in for a reason. I don’t think they have been given a chance yet.”

A parent with two daughters at the school said: “There is a tangible unhappiness in this room.

“I have a real anxiety that it doesn’t matter what systems you put in place you will never make a difference if the staff are so unhappy. And if staff are unhappy my children are going to be unhappy.”

Another said the management team was ‘not fit for purpose’.

Unions and management have now agreed to a resolution to teachers’ 25 concerns and three further days of strike action this week were suspended.

Mr Haupt said: “It is really important we go away from this meeting knowing we have reached an agreement with which we can move forward. 

“I am really confident this will put to rest those problems we have had and will be able to move forward and actually get much better education for our sons and daughters.”

Read our full report of the meeting in Thursday's Gazette.

The Gazette was not allowed inside the academy for Monday's Royal visit from Princess Anne, who officially opened the new £19million building.