A meeting called by trade unions and professional associations of staff at Cowes Enterprise College was held on Wednesday afternoon and a vote of ‘no confidence’ in Rebecca Pearce, the Principal of the College, was overwhelmingly carried.
Over 50 staff, including teachers and support staff attended the meeting to express their serious concerns about the leadership of the school that has been plagued with troubles over recent years.
What has led to lack of confidence
A number of issues were highlighted at yesterday’s meeting that have led to the erosion of confidence in the leadership at the school. These include:
- A failure to adequately explain in person the educational rationale behind the proposed staffing restructure and the huge reduction in the number of support staff – including a failure to adequately clarify who had actually devised the draft structure and the extent of the Principal’s own involvement in this
- A general sense of a lack of communication about key issues and a related failure to adequately fulfil a duty of care to staff
- A situation in which many staff had initially learnt about issues arising from the recent OFSTED report from OnTheWight rather than from the school leadership
- A sense of outrage about comments in a recent school bulletin about the role of support staff which left them feeling badly demoralised and seriously undervalued
- A sense of deep concern about a dangerous loss of control of the College on the last day of term in which a number of leadership decisions had potentially serious health and safety implications for pupils as well as putting the fabric of the building at risk.
- A general feeling of dismay that all of these issues are further serving to undermine the reputation of the school in the eyes of both parents and the wider community.
Governors: “Unhappiness is inevitable during periods of change”
OnTheWight got in touch with the Ormiston Trust for a comment, they responded with the following statement from CEC governors,
“A section of staff has submitted a vote of no confidence in the principal and a discussion will be scheduled with governors and OAT to investigate.
“Unhappiness is inevitable during periods of challenge and change, but the principal is focussed on getting the best possible education for the students at CEC within the available resources.
“The principal has received very positive feedback, including from Ofsted. We will do everything that we can to achieve a resolution that is satisfactory to all.”
Concerns expressed about chair of Governors
At the meeting a similar vote of ‘no confidence’ in Rachel Fidler, the Chair of Governors was also considered. A number of strong comments were made by speakers at the meeting that the level of confidence in the Chair of Governors is also at an alarmingly low level.
It was decided instead to give Ms Fidler and the Governing body the chance to respond to the concerns of staff about the school leadership.
Public meeting
A public meeting for parents and staff has been arranged by Cllr Richard Priest, Executive member of the Isle of Wight council for Children’s Services. It takes place at Cowes Enterprise College on Monday 28th April from 6pm. All are welcome to attend.
