Mayor Dave's Welcome - and Warning - Over HEART Announcement of 'Pause' of its Damaging School Plans
Mayor Dave Hodgson has welcomed the 'pause' announced by HEART Academies Trust of its unpopular plans to remove Head Teacher posts and local governing bodies at Cauldwell, Shackleton, and Shortstown primary schools. However he warned that the plans have not been changed, merely paused.
Commenting, Mayor Dave said: "As the parent campaigners has said, this is a welcome development.'
"However, as things stand HEART's damaging plans have been paused, not changed, and there is a lot of work to be done and trust to be rebuilt."
The full joint statement issued by HEART and SSC Action Steering Group, announcing the pause, was as follows:
From the HEART Academies Trust
"We have reflected on the comments and views of parents and have decided it would be better to pause the process of the proposed restructure and not take any decisions until mediation is complete. The mediation process will actively involve parents and therefore in agreement with SSC Action Steering Group, we will not be holding the planned parent information meeting tonight (17th Oct.)
To confirm what we mean by pausing the process: there are one or two affected staff members who have expressed a personal preference and we are obligated to respond to them and we will do this, where they wish it.
With regards to interviews for the executive head post, which have been arranged, we intend to carry out those interviews, but we will not take any decision about an appointment until after the process of the mediation has been completed."
From the SSC Action Steering Group
"We fully support the decision to cancel tonight's planned parent information meeting as we have been assured of full participation in the mediation process. We will be using Thursday's planned meeting to ensure the SSC action steering group fully represent the views of the parents during the mediation process. We are delighted that the Trust has made the decision to pause the planned restructure under the terms stated above as this will ensure that all voices are heard before decisions are made."