Dear Mr. Tony Howell
Re: Cronyism: Is there an official policy and culture of cronyism in the Children's Directorate?
Earlier this year, there was much criticism in respect to the recruitment of a temporary consultant on £1,000 per day on four days a week without following normal JNC procedure (whatever that is).
Last year the Interim Head Teacher of Moseley School, Mr. Tim Boyes recruited, not one, but two school deputies - with the collusion of two city officers - Mr. Andrew Dixon and Ms. Denise Cutting, without following due process and despite repeated requests by the then Chair of Governors and Chair of Personnel not to proceed until a selection panel had been established.
As you may or may not be aware, when Mr. Boyes was the Deputy Head of Golden Hillock School, Ms. Thelma Probert was the Head Teacher of Golden Hillock.
When Mr. Boyes became the substantive Head of Queensbridge School in 2004, Ms. Probert retired and became the School Improvement Partner (SIP) for Queensbridge School in 2005 – a paid role that requires the SIP to be a critical friend rather than a friend of the Head Teacher.
Also, one would have also thought a credible SIP would be someone with a credible track record of high academic attainment. At her long stint at Golden Hillock School, Ms. Probert only managed to achieve a pass rate of 24% for five GCSE passes grades A*-C including English and Maths i.e. three-quarters of pupils did not make it after five years at Golden Hillock under her watch.
Earlier this year when the Moseley School Governing Body was finally removed, an Interim Executive Board (IEB) was established chaired by none other than Ms. Thelma Probert.
Can you confirm if the Children's Directorate has an official policy and culture of cronyism and if it does, what kind of signal does that send to parents and the electorate? If it does not, can you please explain the above?
Finally, when the position of permanent Head Teacher of Moseley School is ever advertised, is it worth any ambitious Head Teacher bothering to apply for the post if Ms. Probert and like minded hand picked Governors and LA officers will be sitting on the selection and appointment panel?
