Governors go in fresh upheaval for Wolverhampton secondary school

Six governors left St Peter's Collegiate School in Compton on the same day, February 5, following on from the departure of two others in November and December.

School leaders said several chose to resign following a shake-up of "governance arrangements".

They included chair of governors Denise Dalton. According to the school's website there are currently only six governors remaining after the exodus. It's understood parents have not been informed about the governors leaving.

The latest development raises more questions about the running of the academy following the departure of headteacher David Lewis in December, who was previously suspended and had been away from the school for the best part of a year.

Former school chaplain Reverend David Weller also had his contract terminated in February 2019 following a complaint.

The Diocese of Lichfield, which runs the school, has not commented on the reasons for Mr Lewis' suspension but said it was not linked to the sacking of Mr Weller.

Ms Dalton said in a statement announcing the head's departure he had left to "pursue other options", making no reference to the fact he had been suspended.

A Diocese spokesman said: "St Peter’s Collegiate School has been a stand-alone academy since 2012. Governance arrangements at St Peter’s were recently updated to bring them in line with the latest nationally recognised standards for academies. This has included a reorganisation of the trustees (governors) with several choosing to resign or coming to the end of their term of office, while others remain in post.

“We are confident that the trust board will provide strong strategic direction and robust governance for St Peter’s moving forwards, with the wellbeing and education of pupils remaining our priority.”

The loss of the governors is likely to increase scrutiny on the school, which is independent of council control.

A well-placed source said "peculiar circumstances" at St Peter's would be a concern for education bosses in Wolverhampton.

The source said: "The council has every right to be worried given the peculiar circumstances over the last two years at St Peter's - the exit of the chaplain, the exit of the headteacher and now the turmoil with the governing body."

The Express & Star revealed last year that teachers at Mr Lewis' last school in Yorkshire took strike action over "leadership and management issues".

Teachers sparked a crisis when they voted to walk out in October 2015, a move union bosses said revolved "around issues with leadership and management at the school", where staff had been "subjected to unacceptable behaviour".

The Church of England Academy has been based in the city since the mid-19th century and was rated 'good' by Ofsted at its last inspection in September 2017.