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http://www.yorkshiretoday.co.uk/ViewArticle2.aspx?SectionID=55&ArticleID=1047401
Five governors resign over appointment of new headteacher
FIVE governors of a school for deaf children in Doncaster have resigned over the appointment of a new headteacher.
Lucy Harvey
The group, governors at the Doncaster School for the Deaf in Leger Way, quit the board after David Muir was given an "interim position" by the private school's trustees.
Ex-chairman of governors Paul Phillips, who was involved with the school for almost a year, said he gave up his position because he was not consulted about the appointment and was not allowed to see a copy of Mr Muir's contract.
"I resigned because I was unhappy with the procedures followed by the trustees in appointing Mr Muir," he said.
"I was not privy to the appointment. I had no part in the recruitment process whatsoever. In fact I was only told about it two or three days before Mr Muir started. I think that is quite unusual. I think all the governors thought they would be a part of the process.
"Then, when I asked the chairman of trustees, Bobbie Roberts, to see a copy of the contract she told me I couldn't because it was a matter for the trustees. I resigned on the basis of that."
Mr Phillips, an accountant who lives near Pontefract, said: "I don't want this to come across as a criticism of Mr Muir, the problem was the nature of his appointment.
"I believed my role was in contributing to the running and management of the school and I felt I was not able to do that.
"I felt my role became a case of responsibility without power."
Mr Muir is the former head of the Thorn Park School for deaf children in Bradford. He left Thorn Park last November after two months off sick, and joined an agency in March.
Shortly afterwards he was appointed as interim headteacher of Doncaster School for the Deaf, taking over from deputy Jennifer Lupton, who had been acting head for three months.
The governors had recommended Mrs Lupton be given the position full-time.
Following Mr Muir's appointment Mr Phillips and four colleagues, including the headteacher of a local primary school and an education expert employed by Doncaster Local Education Authority, resigned.
New headteacher Mr Muir said: "We are actively recruiting new governors and we see this as an opportunity to move the school forward with governors interested in participating in the high quality education for deaf children.
"I have a lot of experience in the field of working with deaf children and have two deaf children myself, very high achieving deaf children."
Head of trustees Mrs Roberts said: "It is unfortunate that a number of governors have resigned at a challenging time for the school.
"However the trustees, who have overall responsibility for the school, are working with the remaining governors to support David Muir, the interim headteacher in preparation for the full Ofsted inspection which is due to start on Monday."
Five governors resign over appointment of new headteacher
FIVE governors of a school for deaf children in Doncaster have resigned over the appointment of a new headteacher.
Lucy Harvey
The group, governors at the Doncaster School for the Deaf in Leger Way, quit the board after David Muir was given an "interim position" by the private school's trustees.
Ex-chairman of governors Paul Phillips, who was involved with the school for almost a year, said he gave up his position because he was not consulted about the appointment and was not allowed to see a copy of Mr Muir's contract.
"I resigned because I was unhappy with the procedures followed by the trustees in appointing Mr Muir," he said.
"I was not privy to the appointment. I had no part in the recruitment process whatsoever. In fact I was only told about it two or three days before Mr Muir started. I think that is quite unusual. I think all the governors thought they would be a part of the process.
"Then, when I asked the chairman of trustees, Bobbie Roberts, to see a copy of the contract she told me I couldn't because it was a matter for the trustees. I resigned on the basis of that."
Mr Phillips, an accountant who lives near Pontefract, said: "I don't want this to come across as a criticism of Mr Muir, the problem was the nature of his appointment.
"I believed my role was in contributing to the running and management of the school and I felt I was not able to do that.
"I felt my role became a case of responsibility without power."
Mr Muir is the former head of the Thorn Park School for deaf children in Bradford. He left Thorn Park last November after two months off sick, and joined an agency in March.
Shortly afterwards he was appointed as interim headteacher of Doncaster School for the Deaf, taking over from deputy Jennifer Lupton, who had been acting head for three months.
The governors had recommended Mrs Lupton be given the position full-time.
Following Mr Muir's appointment Mr Phillips and four colleagues, including the headteacher of a local primary school and an education expert employed by Doncaster Local Education Authority, resigned.
New headteacher Mr Muir said: "We are actively recruiting new governors and we see this as an opportunity to move the school forward with governors interested in participating in the high quality education for deaf children.
"I have a lot of experience in the field of working with deaf children and have two deaf children myself, very high achieving deaf children."
Head of trustees Mrs Roberts said: "It is unfortunate that a number of governors have resigned at a challenging time for the school.
"However the trustees, who have overall responsibility for the school, are working with the remaining governors to support David Muir, the interim headteacher in preparation for the full Ofsted inspection which is due to start on Monday."
