Southwold parents deserve better!

Last Friday, 24th February Gary Boyd - our school’s Head Teacher - resigned suddenly because of unreasonable and unexplained pressure from The Learning Trust to make changes to the way the school is run.

Since then at least 8 teachers have also resigned and many more are considering. 

Southwold School improved dramatically under Gary’s leadership and he made it a safe, happy place for our children to learn with confidence.

We want to know why he was forced out with no notice and in the middle of a school term.

The most recent Ofsted report for the school said: 

“Southwold is a good and improving school. It has gained the confidence and trust of parents who are very happy with all the school is trying to do for their children. The Head Teacher has driven improvements forward skilfully.”  

Parents have not been told why such huge changes are being forced upon us and our children, or how we can have a say in the future direction of the school.  

Governors have told us they are powerless to stop The Learning Trust doing whatever it wants, regardless of parents’ wishes.

The new leadership of the school is already introducing changes which will affect our children’s education, without informing parents. This week they introduced new procedures for disciplining children, changes to break times and changes to homework routines.

Please sign the petition to get the Learning Trust to listen to Southwold parents and stop making any further changes to the school without involving parents.

We demand that the Learning Trust:

• Reinstates Gary Boyd as Head Teacher or another permanent Head Teacher selected independently by the School Governors with no interference from Learning Trust;

• Suspends immediately any further changes whilst a full consultative process takes place with parents; 

• Invites parents for a meeting with Learning Trust’s Chief Executive, from whom we expect a full explanation and apology for the company's rushed, unprofessional actions and for the lack of consultation over the last 4 months.                                       

We also demand that an urgent independent review is undertaken into the conduct of the Learning Trust's behaviour in this matter.

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