Principal denies fault

Ken Pemberton resigned from Murrays Bay School in April. Photo / The Aucklander

Retired Murrays Bay principal under investigation by the Teachers Council.

The long-serving principal of a North Shore primary school, who left his job after a term on sick leave, is being investigated by the Teachers Council.

Ken Pemberton resigned from Murrays Bay School in April. Before his resignation he had been the subject of a complaint to police and the Murrays Bay School board of trustees after one alleged incident on school grounds last September.

A Waitemata police spokeswoman confirmed they had investigated an incident at a North Shore school but after assessing information and available evidence, no further action was taken. Murrays Bay School would not comment on their investigation.

Two months on from Pemberton's departure, a Teachers Council spokeswoman confirmed he was the subject of a mandatory report to the Complaints Assessment Committee. Under law, school boards of trustees must pass on to the council any complaint about a teacher's conduct.

The spokeswoman said the committee would examine the complaint and determine if Pemberton's alleged actions warranted going before its disciplinary tribunal.

But the former principal said he was confident the matter would not progress further.

"There's nothing in it all," Pemberton told the Herald on Sunday. "The [school] board investigated it and found there was nothing to answer."

Pemberton was only made aware there was an issue when the parents of a student laid a complaint with police a month after the alleged incident last September.

Pemberton said the allegation had soured the tail end of a career that he had planned to call time on later this year.

A school farewell was forfeited and replaced with a private staff function two weeks ago at which he was presented with a manaia pendant in recognition of more than 20 years in charge of Murrays Bay School.

The school's board of trustees chairwoman Sarah Bridge declined comment.

In a letter to parents from the board of trustees in April, Pemberton was said to be on "medically advised leave" before his decision to retire.

A glowing tribute was paid to the retiring principal, thanking him for his contribution to the school.

In the letter, Bridge described him as a highly respected educator who left a legacy of quality learning and innovative teaching as well as overseeing the development of resources and improving the quality of buildings in his 23-year tenure.

Despite his retirement, Pemberton remains on the teachers' register and has not ruled out a future role in education. His licence expires in 2017.

The school is looking to appoint a new principal.