Calls for headteacher to be suspended as government investigates Barking primary school
Eastbury Primary School in Barking - Credit: Archant
Some parents are demanding the suspension of an acting headteacher while the government investigates a number of “serious allegations” against her primary school.
A petition calling for Carole Thomas to step aside has been launched by families worried about the Department for Education’s (DfE) probe into unspecified complaints against Eastbury Primary School in Barking.
The school, in Dawson Avenue, has been rocked by a series of accusations by “whistle-blowers” and was investigated by the DfE last year following allegations pupils were told about the questions of their Standard Assessment Tests (SATs) in advance. But teachers were cleared of any wrongdoing in March.
The petition, launched on Friday, has gathered 15 signatures so far and follows a 97-strong previous petition sent to education minister Michael Gove two months ago demanding an investigation into the running of the school under Ms Thomas.
“We are calling for her suspension at the very least,” said petition leader and carer Monie Wright, 62, of Merton Road, Dagenham. “This petition was created because the parents weren’t happy with what was going on.
You may also want to watch:
“The parents don’t want this –the school was the borough’s flagship, but it has turned to absolute chaos.”
A DfE spokesman confirmed the department is investigating “serious allegations”.
Most Read
- 1 Road and rail disruptions to expect in east London this week
- 2 How Dagenham are you? Take our quiz to find out.
- 3 Three shops 'fail test purchases' after joining safe knife selling scheme
- 4 Youngsters create film inspired by Dagenham's links to slave trade abolitionists
- 5 Hundreds arrested after police crackdown on county lines
- 6 Residents and traders react to proposed A13 tunnel in Dagenham
- 7 Thames Barrier closing for 200th time amid potential east London flooding
- 8 Daggers boss McMahon 'very pleased' with Southend United victory
- 9 Ex-Strictly Come Dancing star gets pupils shimmying in Barking
- 10 'Stunning mural celebrating Barking history is complete
A spokesman for Barking and Dagenham Council said only a small number of parents had expressed concerns about Ms Thomas.
He added: “All complaints received by the local authority are investigated. A number of anonymous whistle-blowing complaints have been received and all the investigations completed following these have found no case to answer. The council and the school are co-operating fully with the DfE to support its investigation of the latest allegations.”
Ms Thomas was unavailable to comment.
