What's going on at Nottingham High School?

[JanetWeb2812]

The headmaster, Kevin Fear, has resigned / been pushed out. Does anyone have any info?

He no longer works there. That's all you need to know. It's really inappropriately to be posting about this and naming someone on a public forum, he is entitled to privacy.

Loads of headteachers are discussed by name on MN.

The story was in the local press. He was going to retire at the end of the summer term but departed suddenly. The school's website is full of 404s where he was mentioned.

That suggests something is up.

I disagree, our dd’s head was charged with child sexual abuse. He’s now serving 17 years in prison. That’s definitely in the parents interest.

What a strange response

Didn’t it say something about finances? I agree seems strange to leave one term before retiring…

@carrotsandtomatoes Why is it strange to suggest that speculating, ie gossiping, about a private individual is inappropriate? Presumably you would be ok about someone posting your full name and place (or former) place of work on here and talking about you? I find that strange tbh.

Of course, if something is proven and in the public arena that is very different.

@dnadiscoveryquery How is that even remotely comparable? Charged and convicted is very different to gossip and speculation.

Because no one knew at the start, so everyone was gossiping and wondering what had happened. Exactly as in the ops case now.

Well, it seems he left in a hurry "for personal reasons." A letter which has been sent out just says he is "taking a period of leave."
IMHO there are only so many possibilities.

1. Sickness or health issues. In which case this could have been stated & why would all trace of him be removed from their website?
2. There are financial irregularities of some kind...highly unlikely.
3. He's been a naughty boy...

@dnadiscoveryquery local gossip is one thing. It will pass. Speculation on the internet stays forever. Do you think that's ok if there is no wrongdoing? Of course, if there is it will come out and can be freely talked about as in your example

Wikipedia page hasn’t been updated. It’s a sad end to a long career but that salary is insane! I wonder if the new Head is getting a comparable salary and the rest of the leadership team are on huge salaries too!

The reason for KF's departure reflects badly on both sides. Apparently KF had asked the governors to organise an event to celebrate his 25 years of service at the school. The governors kept assuring him that everything was in hand. KF discovered that they had been economical with truth - nothing had been arranged - and resigned.

‘Service to the school’? At £290k a year?

V few of the parents paying for that will be on half that salary.

Leaving a school in the middle of a term is v odd. How could he think that wouldn’t cause people to wonder why?

It is OK to ask questions when someone has responsibility for the safety, welfare and education for young people.

I have a family member who went to this school and has been persuaded by KF to part with significant sums in donations. I doubt he knew what salary it was supporting.

How do you know that?!

There's an internal email.
I've seen it.
Would appear Govenors & Fear both had tantrums with each other and instead of acting maturely they....well we can see what's happened.
How embarrassing for all concerned.

The details of KF salary was released by the school in the story leaked to lical press. I'm pretty sure there would be a non disclosure clause around that info as part of his employment package. Lawyer time now.

No wrong doing.. just juvenile behaviour.

KF's salary is a matter of public record. According to the latest accounts lodged with the Charity Commission, his total benefits package was between £350 and £400k.

There are five other members of staff on £100k+ pa.

It’s not a secret. It’s in the press. There will be people who are heavily invested in this case and wanting to know what’s going on.

Wow. Quite the overreaction! I think I would have stuck it out until the end of the year on that salary. Even with no party planned 🤣

He could still be coining in that salary, like gardening leave or have a whopping NDA payout. I don’t think he’ll be worrying about money. Think of the mega pension he’s about to receive too!

I wonder if the deputy went for the Headship. He wasn’t good enough to have the top job but good enough to do it for a term when they need him.

Charities have to declare high salaries in their accounts.
It’s in the public domain.
Any journalist would look it up

Mr Fear’s compensation package is a matter of record on the Charities Commission website. It is ca. £400k per annum.

No need to involve lawyers. He made his own position untenable by having a tantrum over email (which he sent to all staff & the Chair of Governors) about not being afforded a ball to celebrate his retirement. It reads as though he has lost the plot. Nothing to do with safeguarding or financial irregularity. It is a good school and it is well run.

Mr Fear was a good Head and despite this unexpected ending & individual error of judgement, I wish him well in his retirement.