Trafford Council has confirmed that “a number of staff members” at troubled Bollin Primary School have been suspended while an investigation into an “unauthorised on-site party” is carried out.
It said the suspensions relate to a video that has surfaced allegedly showing teachers drinking in the school and celebrating the impending “sacking” of head teacher Mrs Brindle.
A statement read: “As a separate issue there has been an investigation into film footage which allegedly showed an unauthorised on-site party. As a result a number of staff members have now been suspended in a neutral act while investigations continue.”
The council also confirmed that a phased reopening of the Bowdon school will begin tomorrow, three days after the school was dramatically closed down.
It added that, as revealed earlier today by Altrincham Today, the school would be led by interim head teacher Mrs Kylie Spark, currently head at Tyntesfield Primary School in Sale.
The council said it “appreciates the difficulties the school’s closure may have caused for parents, carers and pupils and extended its thanks and gratitude to them for their patience during this difficult time”.
Key Stage 2 pupils will now be returning tomorrow, with Key Stage 1 back on Friday and Early Years pupils returning to the school on Monday.
The statement added: “The school will re-open under the leadership of Ms Kylie Spark, as Interim Headteacher, while the school’s Headteacher is not in school. Otherwise the school has endeavoured to ensure that as many teaching staff as possible are known to the children.
“The Council has applied to the Department for Education for approval for the appointment of an Interim Executive Board consisting of experienced governors.
“Over the coming weeks, the Interim Headteacher will be working hard to restore harmony within the school community.
“Parents have been notified of the arrangements and will be kept updated over the coming days and weeks.”
Earlier today, Julie Saunders, a parent of two children at the school, said that any staff suspensions over the video would not help the children.
“We do not want or need the whole of the school to be wiped out,” she added. “It’s no good for the children to have a raft of new teachers who don’t understand them.”
Saunders called the video a “distraction” and that the staff were “incredible teachers”.
“The video was a flash in the pan – this issue has been going on for months. The staff have gone way over and above for the children at a time when 16 of them have issued grievances against the head. These are really good members of staff.”
