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Shoesmith accused by faith school parents
Robert Mendick, Chief Reporter13.11.08
SHARON SHOESMITH is at the centre of controversy over the suspension of a faith school headteacher.
She faces allegations that she was too heavy handed in suspending June Alexis from John Loughborough School in February and instigating legal proceedings against parents who invaded a classroom in protest.
Dr Alexis was suspended from the Seventh Day Adventist school in Tottenham amid fears that it was in "meltdown". Haringey sent in a "hit squad" to rescue the school sparking furious protests.
Members of the school's Parent Teacher Association were served with an injunction banning them from the premises after 30 parents stormed a classroom.
PTA chairwoman Njeri Yebieman has now been accused of breaching the order and faces up to two years in prison if found guilty at a court hearing expected to take place at the end of this month.
The council, under Mrs Shoesmith's guidance, instigated the civil action against Ms Yebieman, who has a child at the school.
In a statement, the PTA said: "We find the council extremely autocratic with no regard for our parental rights and believe our school's Seventh Day Adventist ethos and its African-Caribbean profile are significant factors in this aggressive, disdainful approach."
The PTA has begun a campaign to get Dr Alexis reinstated by urging parents to lobby Mrs Shoesmith by telephoning her directly at the council.
Haringey council says Dr Alexis was suspended because the school was the "worst performing" in London.
A spokesman said at the time: "This move is to improve leadership, standards achieved by the students and the quality of provision at the school so that the young people can enjoy better longer-term opportunities."
Reader views (4)
She has now been forced to resign - about time too. What happened to Baby P happened on her watch and she should have resigned immediately rather than having to be forced out. Why are these hopeless people in such positions of authority, being paid inflated salaries while their incompetence is plain for all to see?
- Dimsie, N Ireland
John Loughborough School had just been rated the most improved school in Haringey!!!
Ofsted reported that Dr Alexis was passionate, had vision and ambitious plans which were improving the school and JLS begun exceeding the national standards and are on track to rapidly eclipse the top schools in the borough.
Incompetent Ms Shoesmith MUST go!
Competent Dr Alexis MUST be reinstated!!!
- Kimathi, Greenwich
Your report is inaccurate as parents did not storm into classrooms. A peaceful demonstration was held in the school playground following parent and students concerns about the harassment and hounding of Dr Alexis by Sharon Shoesmith.
Sharon Shoesmith has nothing but comptempt for parents and has no respect for the students of John Loughborough school. She lacks the ability to work in partnership with parents and is very oppressive. She does not listen to the voice of the children and does not have their best intrest at heart. Her recent statements in the media is evident of the egotistical cold and arrogant indiviual that she is. She should resign now.
The GCSE RESULTS FOR 2008 WERE IMPRESSIVE AND EVIDENT OF THE FACT THAT DR Alexis is able to drive up standards for the pupils.
Bring back Dr. Alexis
- Georgia, Haringey
Fears that the school was in "meltdown" are a load of rubbish. This is the same school that is the most improved school in the borough, with even greater things predicted for the coming year. This notion that the school is failing was not borne out in the results, where many of the children already have GCSE passes gained in years 9 & 10, which Sharon Shoesmith knew at the time.
Mr Robert Mendicks sensationalist reporting doesn't help either. Parents sang hymns in the playground, well away from any classrooms. Legal proceedings were taken out to intimidate parents and members of the church community.
The whole affair is a catalogue of mismanagement and discrimination on the part of Sharon Shoesmith. And whilst all this was going on she presided over one of the worst cases of child abuse this country has seen.
I want to see Dr June Alexis reinstated and allowed to continue the good work she has initiated with our children.
- Abayomi King, London
