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Sacked Canonburry headteacher Jay Henderson |
Mayor kids’ school head is sacked for ‘misconduct’
Dismissal following claims headteacher looked at porn in office
THE headteacher of the primary school where Boris Johnson and Lord Adonis have sent their children has been sacked for “gross misconduct”.
Jay Henderson, who was suspended last September, was officially dismissed on Friday by a disciplinary panel of three governors in a unanimous decision.
It followed an investigation, led by an independent consultant, which is understood to have looked into claims he had looked at pornography in his school office.
Mr Henderson, who was unavailable for comment, has the right to appeal against the decision and his case will be referred to the General Teaching Council (GTC).
It has since emerged that eight children have been removed from the school since September, but the places have quickly been taken up. Canonbury is already oversubscribed for the autumn term.
Sue Siefert, a veteran headteacher who retired from Montem Primary School after 40 years of service, has been drafted in as executive head.
Last night she refused to comment on the future of the school.
Mr Henderson had previously worked at Chaulden Junior school in Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, where he was named East England’s headteacher of the year in 2004.
Ofsted praised Mr Henderson, who joined Canonbury in 2005, as inspirational and said that he provided a “firm steer”.
A spokesman for CE@Islington, the private company which runs the borough’s schools, said: “The headteacher of Canonbury School, Mr Jay Henderson, was suspended in September 2008 following allegations of unprofessional behaviour. A thorough, independent investigation was carried out. Mr Henderson has now been dismissed for gross misconduct.
“Headteachers are entrusted with the education and safety of children and young people, and it is their duty to conduct themselves accordingly. We expect the highest standards of behaviour from school staff who are role models for young people.
“We are glad a decision has now been reached. The focus at Canonbury will continue to be on providing the best quality education for the children, for the time being under the guidance of experienced headteacher Sue Seifert.”
One parent said there were “mixed feelings” among parents about Mr Henderson’s conduct.
Another parent, who did not wish to be named, said: “When he first came in things did improve. But it wasn’t all perfume and roses. He is gregarious and outgoing, he wanted to make his mark, smiling, meeting and greeting. But I think his stock had fallen before this happened. I think Lord Adonis and a few middle-class families have taken their children out.”
He threw his support behind Ms Siefert, saying: “I’ve got great ?respect for her. I prefer to have someone who’s not smiley and warm and gets the job done. So I say let her get on with it.”
He said he was happy to send his children to Canonbury because it’s a “good local school” but that it still had some problems.”
Canonbury’s problems were thrown into the spotlight when 12 of its 15 governors walked out at the end of the Easter term in the belief they were being scapegoated for failings in the vetting of staff.
It since emerged that Islington Council and Cambridge Education knew some staff references had not been properly checked as far back as 2005, but the governors claimed they were not informed until February this year.
One parent, a former governor, said: “I sympathise with the governors. It’s quite easy for them to be told it’s under control but how do they know? They are volunteers. The council and CE do have a responsibility but they seem to be putting it on the shoulders of the governors.”
A CE@Islington spokesman said: “Canonbury’s school roll has remained very stable, it’s a popular school and places for the autumn term are oversubscribed.
“School populations in inner city boroughs are mobile by their nature and there are many reasons why a parent may remove a child during the school year. In the autumn term 2008, Canonbury School saw seven mid-term transfers to out of London schools balanced by six new arrivals. Since January, the school has lost one pupil but gained two others. We do not comment on individual cases.” |
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