Excluded children to return to Southfield School

Governing body votes to reinstate them leading to one governor resigning in protest

Head Teacher Loses Support From His Governing Body and children are reinstated.

The Parent Governor who was the victim of a vicious attack in her six year old daughter�s playground at Southfield School, has had to resign from her post so that she can speak out about what she believes is an inexcusable decision by the Governing Body not to back their Head Teacher. Her resignation is the first, but a number of other Governors are expected to follow suit.

Colin Lowther took the decision to exclude six children from the school after members of their family violently assaulted two parents. His decision has received widespread support, not only amongst the parents and staff at the school, but also from the wider local community.

However, on Wednesday evening the Governing Body met to discuss the situation and three Governors, who are also parents at the school, put forward the motion �The Governing Body directs the Head Teacher to reinstate the children of the two families in the school with immediate effect.'

Before the Governors voted they were spoken to at length by Colin Bastin, Chair of Governors, who warned that the Governors were all liable either corporately and individually should the families sue for being 'excluded' illegally from the school. He went on to tell how friends had lost personal property because of cases such as this and finished by saying that he was unable to remain as Chairman should they not vote for this motion.

Four Governors including the LEA Governor voted to reinstate the children, Colin Lowther supported by a Parent Governor voted to keep them out and six Governors abstained from the vote.

The result is that the children are free to return to school without any extra health and safety issues addressed and no injunction on the assailants, who have been formally charged by police and appear today at Ealing Magistrates Court. A number of children have had to receive counseling after witnessing the incident.

Understandably, Mr Lowther�s supporters are now very concerned over what will happen next. One parent said �I am just so angry and upset. My children, one of whom witnessed the attacks, are terrified of going to school. I am now expected to take my children everyday to a place where I or they do not feel safe. It is incredibly unfair that it is innocent families like is that have to suffer and move when people are bending over backwards to help these troublemakers.�

This is a view shared by a significant number of parents who are already seeking places in alternative schools in the area.

Colin Lowther took over the Head Teacher�s role from Richard Johnson at the beginning of this academic year. In his short time in the post he has shown dynamic leadership and has won the respect from the teachers and many of the parents of the school. One parent remarked �Southfield School would be nothing without Mr Lowther. He has injected a new energy into the school, it would be devastating if he felt he could no longer remain here after this.�

March 20, 2003

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