Parents protest as principal returns to Crumlin school

PARENTS have protested outside Crumlin Integrated College this week after Dr Annabel Scott returned as principal following two and a half years away from the school.

Dr Scott, who left her post to go for extra training following a damning inspection report in 2010, was greeted at the school gates by parents waving placards who said they were neither consulted or officially told of her return.

At one stage on Wednesday there were up to 200 protestors, many keeping their children at home. Some said they would not allow their children sit exams next week if Dr Scott remained.

Staff were told of the principal’s return on Friday following a meeting she had with the chairman of the Board of Governors Stanley Smith.

Acting principal Philip Smith is returning to his post as vice principal while the other acting principal resumed her role as Head of English.

But some parents said they had understood Dr Scott would never return and organised a protest through social networking sites.

Parents said that they felt let down because they had shown loyalty to the school by keeping their children at the school despite the inspection report.

The Department of Education said they would carry out another inspection report in the autumn while the North Eastern Education and Library Board said Dr Scott had undergone an “intensive training programme to address the performance issues highlighted by the inspection”.

They said in a statement that the school’s board of governors had agreed Dr Scott could resume her full-time duties, “and in doing so be provided with the opportunity to demonstrate to the school and its community improved leadership of the school”.

It said Dr Scott would continue to be provided with training and support, and the Education and Training Inspectorate would examine her report “in due course”.

A spokesman said: “It is acknowledged that this is a challenging time for the staff and school community as the board of governors endeavour to meet their legal requirements in respect of supporting the principal to improve her performance.

“The North Eastern board would assure the college of its full support the coming days.”

A Department of Education spokesperson said: “Decisions on staffing matters, including the return of the Principal following a period of retraining, were, in this instance, properly matters for the North Eastern Education and Library Board and the school’s Board of Governors in the context of employment law.

“The NEELB will continue to provide support to the school in delivering sustained progress in the areas for improvement identified during last November’s follow up inspection. The Education and Training Inspectorate will conduct a second follow up inspection in Autumn 2012.”