PARENTS are rallying to show their support for troubled Lymm High School following the suspension of controversial principal Angela Walsh.
Nearly 150 concerned parents packed into a small meeting room at the Lymm Hotel to voice their concerns for stability at the school.
Local councillor Ian Marks, (pictured left) who has called for an independent panel to review what has been happening at the school, said the overwhelming feedback from the meeting was that parents wanted to work with the school – and not embark on a witch hunt.
Speaking on behalf of parents who want to form a “Parents council” he said: “It was a very positive meeting and there were at least 30 people willing to put themselves forward to sit on a parents council to work in a positive manner with the school governors.
“There is a feeling that the existing teachers and some of the governors are working hard and doing their best in difficult circumstances – and the parents want to work with them and ensure the future stability of the school.
“There appeared to be no desire to embark on a witch hunt. They would just like the opportunity to form a parent council and sit down with the governors before the end of term and come up with an action plan.
“I hope this can be set up quickly and efficiently and I will provide whatever support I can.
“It is important that morale is improved as quickly as possible pending any forthcoming disciplinary hearing following the principal’s suspension.”
Miss Walsh (pictured right) joined the school in September 2008 and hit the headlines within 12 months following the introduction of a controversial new school uniform policy, with pupils staging sit down protests and outrage from parents.
Staff morale has been low for some time, with significant numbers choosing to leave.
In a letter to parents and carers sent out last Friday (June 28) Chair of Governors Kieran Walshe and Vice Chair Rebecca Knowles stated that Miss Walsh had been suspended pending the investigation of a number of issues.
They said interim leadership arrangements for the school had been put in place for the rest of this term.
Suzanne Finlay has been appointed Acting Principal for this period with all members of the Senior Leadership Team taking on some additional responsibilities.
Governors are continuing to meet to discuss the leadership arrangements for the School from September 2013, and are working with senior staff from Warrington Borough Council on that matter.
The school expects to have a full complement of permanent teaching staff in September –including all leadership roles like heads of faculty and subject – as well as welcoming a number of key new staff to the School.
Parents and carers have been told they will be kept informed of developments with plans for further open sessions as they are required.
Parents show support for troubled high school
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Gary Skentelbery
Experienced journalist for more than 40 years. Managing Director of magazine publishing group with three in-house titles and on-line daily newspaper for Warrington. Experienced writer, photographer, PR consultant and media expert having written for local, regional and national newspapers. Specialties: PR, media, social networking, photographer, networking, advertising, sales, media crisis management. Chair of Warrington Healthwatch Director Warrington Chamber of Commerce Patron Tim Parry Johnathan Ball Foundation for Peace. Trustee Warrington Disability Partnership. Former Chairman of Warrington Town FC.
4 Comments
Thank goodness there are some sensible parents of pupils at Lymm High! I was beginning to think, from the comments made about this saga so far, that they were nothing more than rabble-rousers.
We do not know why the head was suspended but it is unlikely to be anything to do with her unpopularity with parents or pupils, or indeed fellow teachers.
I was at the parent meeting. Organised by two people who wanted to do something positive for the school amongst all the negativity. A well run well managed forward looking meting. There is no point in dwelling on the past. With any luck we’ll never see the old head again.
What we need now is for the school to agree to meet with a Parent Council and move on and get Lymm High School back on track. If the school won’t meet them it would just show contempt for those parents who want to change for the better.
Get this sorry few years behind us.
We are finally making some progress Tarun Kapur now involved at the school, this is is great news and should hopefully help flush out the final pieces of the old military regime!
Yes, it was a positive, forward-looking parent’s meeting – however let there be no doubt that there is outright fury at the shambles which has occurred under the noses of the current governing body, and Warrington Borough Council since 2008.
The ‘Acting Principal’ is widely seen to be part of the problem, not the solution, as are several of the long-standing Governors – i.e. the ‘local worthies’ who take on their Governors’ roles as a badges of status, but fail to do a job of work! There needs to be a clear out, before the re-building can begin!