believing you won't be able to guess what profession this relates to - or maybe you can!

[fabsoopergroovy]

a forged document (upheld), intentional witholding of information legally obliged to be given (proven) and intent to deceive (proven and ongoing).

your most likely and least likely professions would be received with great interest and enthusiasm.

needless to say I am horrified!

Because of consistent over assessment (2 academic years/one whole level) by teachers at my children's school, brought to my attention by DD's teacher at the beginning of the last academic year, I requested her optional sats be independently marked.

This was done by LEA and forwarded to HT at school to be released to me.

Report was not forthcoming and constantly requested by email.

I went to collect and HT gave me it with mark as being significantly lower, as DD teacher predicted.

Because of delay in receiving was suspicious, requested, via email, emails from LEA re independent marking to be forwarded to me. These never arrived and had to use Freedom of Information legislation to get HT to release.

It was immediately obvious that HT had forged document originally given to me - original was same in format but little else and LEA original assessment given was even LOWER.

Was shocked, complained and eventually HT suspended. Disciplinary panel of three school governors dismissed (gross misconduct) facts of case undeniable and damning. Appeal panel (3 different school governors) acknowledged she was guilty but decided to let her return to school. I do not know why.

Parents have not been told exactly of what she did and rumours are rife. She addressed a parents meeting held to update those parents of a full teaching and learning review that had taken place in her absence. She said that a complaint had been made against her and that it had been partially upheld. She would not go into detail and would not allow questions about it. This is a lie - my complaint was upheld in full and this has been confirmed to me in writing by LEA.

Not unreasonably, parents believe that because she is back she could not have done what she did as the LEA would never allow it!! Whatsmore, why wouldn't you trust what your Headteacher tells you? Being dishonest, untrustworthy and lacking in integrity are qualities that should never be seen in any area of professional life - should they?

I have moved my children as have about 15% of the school population, most to local schools.

Am I naive to think that this is morally wrong?

Thoughts and advice that may help me help the remaining children and parents at the school would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

Secret Agent

Fab - I moved my DC's out of my local school, and the new school has graded them at least a year behind where the old school had told me they were. I too was very upset.

Anyway, my advice to you is to leave it. You have moved your children out of there. Trying to help the other children / parents will cause you an extreme amount of stress, which you don't need. What you need to do right now is concentrate on getting your children back to the standard where they should be. This should be taking up your energy.

It's very hard to let go. But keeping on the fight is not going to benefit you or your children. If someone asks you tell them the truth - but apart from that let them make their own decisions.

This is effectively malpractice.

I would tell the exam board and Ofsted if I discovered this was going on, exactly as you have put it here. It undermines the entire assessment process.

We get the educational system we deserve and we all need to be vigilant and report fraudulent activity and the like.

I totally agree Boffin. OFSTED, however are not interested. The LEA know the full facts and have compiled a comprehensive investigation report but by refusing to release any information to anyone outside that LEA they are acknowledging dishonesty as an acceptable behaviour for a Headteacher.

It's such a closed shop it's scary.

Indigo - I agree with you too and I have asked myself a million times why I should not just concentrate on my own DC's. Fact is that prior to this happening to me, despite rumours, the constant steady removal of children from the school and the undisputed fact that Yr 6 externally marked SATs (consisently poor) were a talking point in the playground - I still trusted what the Headteacher was telling me - that there was not a problem and there will always be pupil movement.

I honestly believe that Headteacher trustworthyness and integrity should not be in question when a parent chooses a school for their child. I live in a rural community where the choice of local schooling is limited. It is possible that this has happened before and no guarantee that it won't happen again - ask yourself whether you would be entirely happy sending your children to a school with such a headteacher?

Fab - you are right. I had to give up my similar-but-not-quite-so-bad fight because it was just so stressful for me.

I was a school governor too and could see that even using that route I was going to get nowhere, so I let her force me out.

Hard to say if I've done the right decision. Neither me nor my children have yet 'moved on' emotionally from all the stuff (mostly re SN) at the old school.

But I know the governors will never fire the head - because she is not bad enough to need to be fired. And I know that while she is there nothing will change.

I also told the LEA that my kids grades had been inflated - and they weren't at all interested in pursuing it. So if the LEA isn't interested, and the school governors won't help - there's not much else you can do.

But it is disgraceful. It's not just the headteacher you should be able to trust, it's all of the school staff. But unfortunately you can't. Mostly most things don't matter and no-one gets hurt. But sometimes - especially with SN - irreparable damage is done.

School governance - don't even go there. I have learned so much. What is really interesting to me is that Indigo, you have obviously experienced a little of what I have been through:

"I was a school governor too and could see that even using that route I was going to get nowhere"

DH was a parent governor for a couple of years until he resigned when DC's moved school - OMG what an eye opener. Uncovered was a 'special' relationship between Chair and Head and so much more you would not believe - or maybe you would!

A Big Society idea in practice. Boy, when it goes wrong it really goes wrong. Messrs Cameron and Gove need to look really closely at the issues regarding school governance for a perfect example of when Big Society goes wrong.

I think I know which school you are talking about. In SE England, right? I would guess that the info you want hasn't been released to you because it cooncerns disciplinary proceedings against an individual. I take your point about parents needing to be able to trust the Head, but there is lots of info held by public bodies which is exempt from FOI.

Flora - nope - but you obviously have a similar experience. How many more schools have a similar situation do you think?

The more illustrations, the further into disrepute the school governing body goes.

I have chased for the report under FoI but LEA refuse to give as decided not in the public interest! Can understand data protection issues with Head but redaction can also be applied. I am considering going after it via Data Protection legislation as it is an investigation report concerning my complaint so will contain data about me and my DD.

Get this though - the LEA refused under FoI to release the report but DID release the names of the governors that sat on the dismissal panel and also those that sat on the subsequent appeal panel. Why would they do that do you think?

Go to the media. The Guardian has a dedicated education section, they might be interested.

Is there a reason you can't tell us where it is?

spacehopper - good suggestion - think I'm going to be left with little choice but probably need to wait until september as lots of parents on holiday at the mo.

Seabright - hi, it's in the rural North West.

fab, try your MP/councillor.

I understand your concerns, this is dreadful, but surely you've had your pound of flesh? If you're not satisfied there are clear procedures and processes to follow, going to the media is just vengeful IMO and (gawd love 'em,)I'm no fan of Head Teachers!

Fab, have made discreet enquiries and am reliably informed that if you make a complaint to the Information Commissioner it may well Be In Your Interests.

Look here for information about how to do this

Boffin - thank you so much for your advice and the link .

I am going to give this a go but looks like it could be a lengthy process. So, watch this space and will keep you updated with how it goes.

Thanks again - maybe there is light/hope/possibility at the end of the tunnel.