11 Plus Exams Forum

Last night I noticed a brief item on the BBC Glos web site saying that the head of Marling had just been suspended.

I bumped into the chair of Marlings' governors this morning (depositing his daughters at Stroud High). He was rather livid that Shire Hall had told the local press that Roger had been suspended, as the school press release (and info told to parents) was that Roger had agreed to stay away from the school, without prejudice, whilst matters were being investigated.

Now I didn't press for more info (and would not have been given it), but was told that 'Pupils were not involved in the matter', so it's not a ******* problem (which really would have surprised me).

However, it must have been very odd for those parents turning up this morning for the 11+ to be met by such gossip. Just hope it all gets resolved quickly.

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According to my friend, there was no 'good' time to do it, and it was something that had to be done now. I think the chair of governors genuinely has the interests of the whole school at heart, and indeed has a child there in year 7 (who he has no plans to relocate, to the best of my knowledge). The chap was very worried about it all this morning.

Once the situation has been resolved, I think, and hope, that the school may well take a turn for the better. I'd not hesitate to send a son there (well, other than not having one, and not being a rugby/soccer/sporty family).

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Glos_Mum wrote:I see that they are still not issuing any further news at the moment

Not surprising, really - it's to be fair to Roger Lock.

I'm going to use an example here which I'm very sure is not the reason for him being suspended; it's so I can explain it. For a start, this example would also be a police matter, and I'm sure that the police have not been involved.

Say a member of staff had applied for promotion, and the head turned them down. The teacher then went, quite maliciously, to the governors saying that they had been sexually assaulted by the head.

The governors would have to investigate. They would have to suspend the head whilst that investigation was underway so that no evidence could be interfered with. However, they would be very foolish to tell the parents that the head had been suspended for assaulting a member of staff, as parents would immediately assume that there was no smoke without fire.

In this example, it turns out that he had not assaulted the member of staff, and returns back to school with an unblemished record.

It is frustrating for those of us who would like to know what Mr Lock has been accused of, but I'm sure that legal advice has been taken by both sides and that is why we are not hearing anything.

Interestingly, two of the most vocal voices are the former chair of governors, and a woman who was removed by the County Council from being a governor - one wonders why they are not in post now!