This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2012/sep/23/isles-scilly-toxic-school-saga
The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Isles of Scilly split over toxic school saga | Isles of Scilly split over toxic school saga |
| (30 days later) | |
| With lovely sandy beaches, turquoise water and an easy pace of life, the Isles of Scilly may seem like the perfect place to live and work. But all is not well in this slice of paradise 30 miles off the south-west of mainland Britain. | With lovely sandy beaches, turquoise water and an easy pace of life, the Isles of Scilly may seem like the perfect place to live and work. But all is not well in this slice of paradise 30 miles off the south-west of mainland Britain. |
| The islands, home to 2,000 people, are seething with allegations, claims and rumours over alleged financial irregularities at Scilly's single school and pornographic images alleged to have been found on a computer used by the headteacher. | The islands, home to 2,000 people, are seething with allegations, claims and rumours over alleged financial irregularities at Scilly's single school and pornographic images alleged to have been found on a computer used by the headteacher. |
| Stroll around the islands and you hear furious rows about whether the school should become an academy and hushed conversations about the suspension and subsequent resignation of the headteacher, Bryce Wilby. Digging a little deeper unearths widespread concerns that he may have been unfairly driven away by the all-powerful council of the Isles of Scilly. | Stroll around the islands and you hear furious rows about whether the school should become an academy and hushed conversations about the suspension and subsequent resignation of the headteacher, Bryce Wilby. Digging a little deeper unearths widespread concerns that he may have been unfairly driven away by the all-powerful council of the Isles of Scilly. |
| It is a complicated story. Wilby began work at the 250-pupil Five Islands school in 2008. The job is a unique challenge. Though the main school building is on the biggest island, St Mary's, there are also bases on the "off islands" of Tresco, St Agnes and St Martins. | It is a complicated story. Wilby began work at the 250-pupil Five Islands school in 2008. The job is a unique challenge. Though the main school building is on the biggest island, St Mary's, there are also bases on the "off islands" of Tresco, St Agnes and St Martins. |
| Wilby oversaw construction of a new building on St Mary's, which opened last year and has been judged a huge success, but also set about reforming how the other bases worked. That was not popular with all staff. He also began investigating if the school ought to apply for academy status, believing money could be saved if funds went straight to the school rather than being channelled through the council as happens now. | Wilby oversaw construction of a new building on St Mary's, which opened last year and has been judged a huge success, but also set about reforming how the other bases worked. That was not popular with all staff. He also began investigating if the school ought to apply for academy status, believing money could be saved if funds went straight to the school rather than being channelled through the council as happens now. |
| In early summer, just after returning to the islands from a meeting about academy status, Wilby was suspended from his post. The council announced a routine audit had found "apparent financial irregularities". | In early summer, just after returning to the islands from a meeting about academy status, Wilby was suspended from his post. The council announced a routine audit had found "apparent financial irregularities". |
| Not all accepted the council's handling of the matter, believing it – rather than the school's governing body – was behind Wilby's suspension. | Not all accepted the council's handling of the matter, believing it – rather than the school's governing body – was behind Wilby's suspension. |
| Public meetings were called and a group called Heart (Honesty, Ethics, Accountability, Respect and Transparency) was set up to challenge the council. Separately, a petition was started expressing no confidence in Philip Hygate, the council's long-serving chief executive. | Public meetings were called and a group called Heart (Honesty, Ethics, Accountability, Respect and Transparency) was set up to challenge the council. Separately, a petition was started expressing no confidence in Philip Hygate, the council's long-serving chief executive. |
| Both Tim Thornton, the Bishop of Truro, and Andrew George, the Liberal Democrat MP whose constituency includes Scilly, have asked the Department for Education (DfE) to investigate the toxic saga. George has spoken to the education secretary, Michael Gove, about the crisis while Thornton says there is so much "distrust" on the islands that an independent investigation is needed. | Both Tim Thornton, the Bishop of Truro, and Andrew George, the Liberal Democrat MP whose constituency includes Scilly, have asked the Department for Education (DfE) to investigate the toxic saga. George has spoken to the education secretary, Michael Gove, about the crisis while Thornton says there is so much "distrust" on the islands that an independent investigation is needed. |
| Mike Hicks, chairman of the council, admitted Scilly was in a "dark place" and enduring a "torrid" period in their proud history. "The islands have divided over what's happened," he said. "We're having a tough time." | Mike Hicks, chairman of the council, admitted Scilly was in a "dark place" and enduring a "torrid" period in their proud history. "The islands have divided over what's happened," he said. "We're having a tough time." |
| Hicks accepted that many islanders believe the headteacher was the victim of a witch-hunt because of changes he wanted to bring in that would have given the school more independence from the council. "There's a lot of blame being placed on the council. It is a mess, no doubt about it," said Hicks. | Hicks accepted that many islanders believe the headteacher was the victim of a witch-hunt because of changes he wanted to bring in that would have given the school more independence from the council. "There's a lot of blame being placed on the council. It is a mess, no doubt about it," said Hicks. |
| Louise Graham of Heart believes Wilby was treated very unfairly. "What we've discovered is a lot of fear on the islands about how things operate here. There's a feeling that if you keep your head down you'll be all right. If you stand up against the council you can get into trouble." | Louise Graham of Heart believes Wilby was treated very unfairly. "What we've discovered is a lot of fear on the islands about how things operate here. There's a feeling that if you keep your head down you'll be all right. If you stand up against the council you can get into trouble." |
| Concern grew when a leaked email suggested the council had taken outside advice on how to suspend a head before the governors knew of the allegations. | Concern grew when a leaked email suggested the council had taken outside advice on how to suspend a head before the governors knew of the allegations. |
| As the autumn term began, there was a new twist. A statement from the council's lead member for children's services, David Pearson, referred to "financial irregularities" but also claimed – for the first time – that "inappropriate content" was found on a school computer "solely used by Mr Wilby". Pearson told the Guardian images found were not of an illegal nature – and indeed the police had not been involved in the affair. He also said he did not believe Wilby had acted dishonestly regarding the supposed "financial irregularities", which relate to matters such as travel expenses, a hotel stay, a drinks bill and even coffee, teabags and dishwasher tablets. Wilby has not been charged with any offences. | As the autumn term began, there was a new twist. A statement from the council's lead member for children's services, David Pearson, referred to "financial irregularities" but also claimed – for the first time – that "inappropriate content" was found on a school computer "solely used by Mr Wilby". Pearson told the Guardian images found were not of an illegal nature – and indeed the police had not been involved in the affair. He also said he did not believe Wilby had acted dishonestly regarding the supposed "financial irregularities", which relate to matters such as travel expenses, a hotel stay, a drinks bill and even coffee, teabags and dishwasher tablets. Wilby has not been charged with any offences. |
| The auditors' report is due to be shown to councillors in the week beginning Monday 24 September even though Wilby has yet to give his side of the story. | The auditors' report is due to be shown to councillors in the week beginning Monday 24 September even though Wilby has yet to give his side of the story. |
| There are farcical elements to the saga. For one thing, no one is sure if Wilby is still a school employee. He thinks he is; Pearson said he was not; the council is taking legal advice to find out. | There are farcical elements to the saga. For one thing, no one is sure if Wilby is still a school employee. He thinks he is; Pearson said he was not; the council is taking legal advice to find out. |
| Wilby and his wife, Maria, have left the island. He has yet to speak in public but his wife said he denied all financial wrongdoing and could explain all the issues raised. And any suggestion he had viewed pornography was "absolutely untrue". | Wilby and his wife, Maria, have left the island. He has yet to speak in public but his wife said he denied all financial wrongdoing and could explain all the issues raised. And any suggestion he had viewed pornography was "absolutely untrue". |
| He did not have sole access to the school laptop and she believed the images could have been "planted" by enemies who wished to discredit Wilby. | He did not have sole access to the school laptop and she believed the images could have been "planted" by enemies who wished to discredit Wilby. |
| Maria Wilby said the months since Wilby was suspended had been "horrible" and she would be "relieved" if the DfE did investigate. "We were happy on the Isles of Scilly. We wanted to stay here until we retired," she said. "Bryce deserves a full and fair hearing after all the slurs. We want justice." | Maria Wilby said the months since Wilby was suspended had been "horrible" and she would be "relieved" if the DfE did investigate. "We were happy on the Isles of Scilly. We wanted to stay here until we retired," she said. "Bryce deserves a full and fair hearing after all the slurs. We want justice." |
| Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. | |
| Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. Enter your email address to subscribe. |