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Al-Madinah school's headteacher admits he was whistleblower Al-Madinah school's headteacher admits he was whistleblower
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The former headteacher of the troubled Al-Madinah free school in Derby has revealed himself as the whistleblower who raised concerns over the governance and leadership of the Islamic school.The former headteacher of the troubled Al-Madinah free school in Derby has revealed himself as the whistleblower who raised concerns over the governance and leadership of the Islamic school.
Andrew Cutts-McKay told the Guardian that he quit his post as principal of Al-Madinah in June, after "repeatedly and unsuccessfully" raising concerns with the school's trust and governing body about financial mismanagement and the ability and experience of certain staff members. Andrew Cutts-McKay told the Guardian that he quit his post as principal of Al-Madinah in June, after "repeatedly and unsuccessfully" raising concerns with the school's trust and governing body about financial mismanagement and the ability and experience of certain staff members, governors and trustees.
In a statement given to the Guardian on Tuesday, he said problems began earlier in 2013, halfway through the school's first academic year of operation.In a statement given to the Guardian on Tuesday, he said problems began earlier in 2013, halfway through the school's first academic year of operation.
"During the spring term it became increasingly apparent to me that there were serious problems emerging in the school beyond my control," he wrote."During the spring term it became increasingly apparent to me that there were serious problems emerging in the school beyond my control," he wrote.
"In particular, some aspects and behaviours by a minority of members of the trust/governing body, led me to the conclusion that things were not as they should be. These included: finance issues, operational leadership issues [and] ability and experience concerns," said Cutts-McKay, who helped set up the school and was in position when it opened in September 2012."In particular, some aspects and behaviours by a minority of members of the trust/governing body, led me to the conclusion that things were not as they should be. These included: finance issues, operational leadership issues [and] ability and experience concerns," said Cutts-McKay, who helped set up the school and was in position when it opened in September 2012.
He said he tipped off the Department for Education (DfE) and the Education Funding Agency (EFA) only after being stonewalled by the school's trustees. The EFA is due to release a report soon looking at alleged financial irregularities and mismanageement of funds. He said he tipped off the Department for Education (DfE) and the Education Funding Agency (EFA) only after being stonewalled by the school's trustees. The EFA is due to release a report soon looking at alleged financial irregularities and mismanagement of funds.
"Having repeatedly and unsuccessfully tried to raise these matters internally and directly with the trust/governing body, and on the back of increasing unhappiness from the staff, I came to the conclusion that independent inspection of these issues at the school was needed and that the appropriate authorities should be alerted to these problems," said Cutts-McKay."Having repeatedly and unsuccessfully tried to raise these matters internally and directly with the trust/governing body, and on the back of increasing unhappiness from the staff, I came to the conclusion that independent inspection of these issues at the school was needed and that the appropriate authorities should be alerted to these problems," said Cutts-McKay.
"I therefore informed the Education Funding Agency, informed the Department for Education [and] made the decision to resign from my position at the school.""I therefore informed the Education Funding Agency, informed the Department for Education [and] made the decision to resign from my position at the school."
Last week the schools inspectorate Ofsted released a damning report into Al-Madinah following an inspection in October, several months after Cutts-McKay's departure. The inspectors said the school was dysfunctional and branded it inadequate on all fronts: the achievement of students, the quality of teaching, the behaviour and safety of pupils, and the leadership and management of the school. Last week, the schools inspectorate Ofsted released a damning report into Al-Madinah following an inspection in October, several months after Cutts-McKay's departure. The inspectors said the school was dysfunctional and branded it inadequate on all fronts: the achievement of students; the quality of teaching; the behaviour and safety of pupils; and the leadership and management of the school.
The Ofsted inspectors reported that "failures in leadership and management are at the heart of the school's dysfunctional situation". "Failures in leadership and management are at the heart of the school's dysfunctional situation," the Ofsted report said.
The inspectors placed the blame firmly at the governors' door, saying: "Despite their commitment to the vision for the school, the governors have failed the parents of this community who have placed their trust in them."The inspectors placed the blame firmly at the governors' door, saying: "Despite their commitment to the vision for the school, the governors have failed the parents of this community who have placed their trust in them."
Cutts-McKay told the Guardian that independent inspectors who visited Al-Madinah during his tenure were largely positive about the school and praised his leadership. He said the inspectors visited in November 2012, May 2013 and June 2013 and raised no major concerns.Cutts-McKay told the Guardian that independent inspectors who visited Al-Madinah during his tenure were largely positive about the school and praised his leadership. He said the inspectors visited in November 2012, May 2013 and June 2013 and raised no major concerns.
In his statement on Tuesday, Cutts-McKay said: "I am … proud that during my tenure as principal of Al-Madinah school, its performance and reputation was strong and independently verified by experienced qualified inspection staff from the DfE and by Ofsted-qualified lead inspection staff acting as external advisors.In his statement on Tuesday, Cutts-McKay said: "I am … proud that during my tenure as principal of Al-Madinah school, its performance and reputation was strong and independently verified by experienced qualified inspection staff from the DfE and by Ofsted-qualified lead inspection staff acting as external advisors.
"At no point were teaching, achievement, behaviour and safeguarding, or leadership and management ever considered to be inadequate up until the point when I departed."At no point were teaching, achievement, behaviour and safeguarding, or leadership and management ever considered to be inadequate up until the point when I departed.
"In particular, I am proud that my leadership was stated as being a strength of the school; my judgments were considered as being secure; the SEF [self-evaluation form] that was developed was stated as detailed and accurate and showed that in June 2013 no areas within the school were graded as inadequate.""In particular, I am proud that my leadership was stated as being a strength of the school; my judgments were considered as being secure; the SEF [self-evaluation form] that was developed was stated as detailed and accurate and showed that in June 2013 no areas within the school were graded as inadequate."
He added: "I am proud of the work that I carried out during 2012 to work with parents, families and the local community to create the Al-Madinah school.He added: "I am proud of the work that I carried out during 2012 to work with parents, families and the local community to create the Al-Madinah school.
"The initial vision for the school – which I helped to shape – was 'we will engage young people, their families and communities in learning and provide outstanding teaching, support and care'; and this original vision is something that I still believe in. "The initial vision for the school – which I helped to shape – was, 'We will engage young people, their families and communities in learning and provide outstanding teaching, support and care'; and this original vision is something that I still believe in.
"I am pleased that the investigations I instigated have now been completed and that local parents, their families and the local community can now begin to build a better future for the education of their children. This, after all, is the one and only reason for creating and leading great schools.""I am pleased that the investigations I instigated have now been completed and that local parents, their families and the local community can now begin to build a better future for the education of their children. This, after all, is the one and only reason for creating and leading great schools."
Cutts-McKay is now in the process of setting up another free school in Newark, Nottinghamshire.Cutts-McKay is now in the process of setting up another free school in Newark, Nottinghamshire.
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