An investigation into a London academy has revealed security breaches and exploitation in teacher-student relationships.
The research, conducted by the Board of Governors of Holland Park School in west London, found a culture of “fear, favoritism and inequality”.
Very little support was provided to students after traumatic events such as the Grenfell fire.
Students and teachers were also exposed to sexism, Islamophobia and racism.
Local authority, Kensington and Chelsea, released a statement saying: “Last week a child was injured and a teacher became seriously ill”.
It added: “This week a teacher left the school in tears and more than 200 students have been involved in a riot to protest future plans being made for their school and to express concern for their teachers.”
- An inappropriate response to the case of a teacher who had a relationship with a student
- Inappropriate use of the isolation room
- Open discussion at staff meetings about the personal appearance of teachers
- Rapid promotion of newly qualified teachers (NQTs) to senior management positions without relevant training or experience
- Inappropriate Disclosure of Confidential Information
- Staff questionnaires related to the January 2020 Ofsted inspection were destroyed at the instigation of some senior management
Complaints investigated by the Board of Governors came from students and staff and included misleading Ofsted inspectors, safety deficiencies that endanger the welfare of students, and bullying of teachers and students.
The independent inquiry looked at allegations of guardianship, bullying, discrimination and unequal treatment of teachers and students.
A failure to support students who had been victims of peer sexual abuse was also noted.
The complaints and evidence range from 2004 when the school was under the control of Kensington and Chelsea Council to September 2013 when it became a Single Academy Trust and then from September 2013 to December 2021.
Some former staff and students are “still traumatized by their experiences at Holland Park School,” and “at times, respondents were extremely distressed at reliving their time at Holland Park School and were visibly distressed,” says the the report.
The Department of Education previously issued an improvement notice to the school in November 2021, highlighting financial mismanagement, as well as “inflated salaries and failure to obtain government prior approval for “novel and controversial” spending.”
The school announced last year that then-principal Colin Hall would be taking early retirement while a new chairman of the governors was appointed. Before leaving the school, Mr Hall said: “We do not recognize the characterization of the school or our leadership in the allegations made.”
Sarah Newman, executive director of children’s services at Kensington and Chelsea Council, said the situation “has now escalated to the point where the council is calling for immediate intervention by the Department for Education”.
The board said it took the findings “very seriously” and would launch a disciplinary investigation into three employees.
A statement added: “The Board of Governors has been reconstituted since the events contained in the report occurred, with nearly all governors appointed since September 2021.
“However, the current board deeply regrets that the independent investigation has concluded that these events took place.”
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