STORY LINE

Synopsis

The book tells the story of how a Local Authority, post an OFSTED Inspection in April 2001, used the full might of its powers and resources to crush and pursue good individuals with passion, in order to cover up the senior officers and politicians' neglect of the most vulnerable and poorest school in one of the most socio-economically deprived areas in Trafford.

The book is an attempt to explore and analyse, the lies, the legal infringements, the prevarications, the innuendoes, the hidden agendas, the breaches of confidence, the internal power struggles, the secrets, the unhealthy and dangerous liaisons and collusion between officers and executive politicians, the negation of Natural Justice and the infringements of Human Rights employed by the senior officers of the LEA and by some senior politicians of Trafford MBC. My direct appeals for justice and support to the Rt Honorable David Blunkett , MP, and the Rt Honorable Estelle Morris, MP, respective Secretaries of State for Education, were passed on down the line and only belatedly responded to. There would eventually be a late acknowledgement that the Authority had acted outside the legal framework, yet, no intervention or sanctions were imposed from London, no help offered to the governing body or the headteacher, even though, later it would be acknowledged privately that Trafford LEA had got it all wrong.

What would become clear as the initial weeks passed after the illegal suspension of delegated powers from the governing body, was that there really did not exist any help or support of any real substance to safeguard any governing body against unfair, unjust and bullish behaviour by a LEA. No appeals procedure in existence unless the governors appealed to the perpetrators, no legal cover and no protection of any kind for a bunch of well-meaning and hardworking volunteers.

We, the governors would be made the fall guys, and the headteacher would be witch-hunted by the most senior LEA officers and politicians in order to cover up their neglect, their failures, their mistakes, and their breaches of statutory duties towards the poorest and most deprived school in the borough. At least the headteacher would have the full support of his Professional Body and the continued support of most of his governing body.

A corporate body like our small Authority of Trafford may have mission statements and policies but what would be found sadly lacking would be corporate ethics, and corporate responsibility and accountability. The protracted inquisition of the headteacher by Trafford MBC proved to be a costly event - a travesty offending Human Rights and decency levels. I will call it an inquisition rather than investigation, for that is far too gentle a descriptor. My reputation would be deliberately tarnished and my public image damaged.

The headteacher, who had an excellent professional reputation and who never received either oral or written warnings, formal or informal from the Director for Education, would be subjected to 13 months sheer hell. The unwarranted pain, fear, isolation, and bewilderment the head, the governors and I were subjected to in the nightmarish and dehumanising world of Trafford MBC, should never be allowed to happen again to any individual. A five-day disciplinary hearing, would follow 13 months of isolation and of public and professional assassination.

The premise from which this book is written, is that when a corporate body such as a local Authority cannot or will not safeguard the individual within from injustice, in fact is the perpetrator as in this case, then, such a corporate body cannot profess to safeguard the whole within, or the community without, which it serves - and public statements such as community involvement - transparency - value for money, and democracy become somewhat meaningless. Hold fast that which is Good - Trafford MBC Code of Arms.
All events of the story (well documented) will be told and argued within a broadly philosophical and corporate ethical context... TOP

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