College trustees given the boot

The trustees of Glenfield College, which was rocked last year by claims of bullying and intimidation, have been sacked and replaced by a commissioner.

The move comes in the wake of a highly critical Education Review Office report into the school after staff claimed last year that they had been bullied and intimidated.

Associate Education Minister David Benson-Pope said officials believed "there was a risk to the operation of Glenfield College should the board remain". He assured parents of the 1200 students the quality of education would not be affected.

The ERO report said the problems it had identified were causing considerable conflict within the college.

"They present a major barrier to school improvements and may pose a risk that teacher time and energy have been diverted away from a focus on the interests of students.

"The ERO is not confident that the board can resolve these serious issues without external support."

The commissioner is Gail Thomson, a limited statutory manager at Cambridge High School last year who still works with the commissioner appointed to that school.

The review highlighted problems with the principal, Mel Cooper, saying: "ERO has significant concerns about aspects of the principal's leadership, and his staff and relationship management."

Yesterday a visibly upset Mr Cooper addressed staff in the auditorium. He would not speak to the Herald. Teachers also refused to comment, saying they were under orders.

The board chairwoman since 2000, Judy Aitken, said through a closed door at her home that she was not authorised to comment.

The report said the principal had failed to unite his senior management team and the ERO considered the team had become dysfunctional because its members were unable to work effectively together.

The ERO was concerned about the college's staff culture, with some workers saying some longer-serving colleagues demonstrated intimidating behaviour towards others and frowned upon dissent, rather than seeing it as healthy debate.

Staff believed that concerns they raised for the 2003 appraisal of the principal were not addressed and continued to undermine trust in the board.

The ERO found that 60 per cent of present staff expressed positive job satisfaction. A high proportion also said they were leaving or considering leaving.

External intervention was deemed necessary to promote "collegiality, inclusiveness and positive attitudes to school improvement and to redirect the energies of staff to improving student achievement".

What the ERO found

* The board is not governing the college effectively in some critical areas.

* The principal is not providing effective change management and is not managing staff relationships constructively.

* The staff culture is divisive and not conducive to school improvement.

* The board is not providing a safe working environment for staff.