Advertisement
Head suspended
Reporter: KAREN DOHERTY
Date online: 12 January 2010
Mystery surrounds school’s decision
MYSTERY surrounds the shock suspension of Our Lady’s High School head teacher Roger Whitaker.
The council, diocese and chairman of governors are remaining tight-lipped about the decision.
The news comes amid preparations to merge the Royton secondary with St Augustine’s, Werneth, in 2012.
The new Roman Catholic high school in Chadderton will be one of the first projects completed by Oldham’s £266 million Building Schools for the Future (BSF) overhaul.
Governor Tony Larkin confirmed that Mr Whitaker had been spending two or three days a week working on BSF.
His deputy Carol Spillane, acting head when he was not in school, has taken up the post full time in his absence.
Councillor Larkin said he did not know the reason for the suspension. He added: “Unfortunately, I can’t give you any information at all. I was informed last week that the chairman of governors had suspended Mr Whitaker pending an investigation.
“There was not a meeting of the full governing body before hand. I believe the decision would have involved key governors, possibly chairs of committees.
“Obviously, some governors could be fully involved if any kind of disciplinary takes place. They need to be separate from anything going on.”
Mr Whitaker was appointed head in 2003 after 10 years at the helm of Newman School, Carlisle.
Our Lady’s was identified as underachieving by the education watchdog Ofsted in November, 2004. GCSE results were below average, there were concerns about pupils’ progress and several subjects were deemed unsatisfactory.
Two years later, inspectors said that results had improved and the school no longer required significant improvement. Mr Whitaker was also praised for his outstanding leadership.
The school was congratulated by ministers after its 2007 GCSE results were among the most improved in the country. Our Lady’s latest GCSE results will be published in tomorrow’s secondary school league tables.
Mr Whitaker is being represented by the Association of School and College Leaders which was unable to comment.
Chairman of Governors Mike Aston also declined to speak to the Chronicle and Salford Diocese did not respond.
Father Peter McKie, who is a governor, was also in the dark. He said: “It is going to come as a shock to the rest of the governors. I have the highest regard for Mr Whitaker as a man and as a teacher.”
Comments
Mr Whitaker Is A Excellent Head Teacher, And A Very Nice Man He Shouldn't Have Been Suspended No Matter What The Reason.
So who actually runs the school? it does not sound very democratic and what about transparency
KEEP RELIGION OUT OF SCHOOLS! Do we have special schools for children whose parents believe in fairies?
philstarbuckssilkyskills :I'm happy for religion to be taught in schools. This is, after all, a Christian country with laws that originate with the Ten Commandments. Religious studies can instil compassion, tolerance, empathy and morals. Surely no one can object to that? Religious studies are compulsory in Catholic school, as far as I know, but not in C of E ones.
Sorry Mr Whitaker but this comment has nothing to do with you...but yes I would like to know why I cannot send my boy to Bluecoat or Crompton House (two of the best schools in Oldham) unless I attend church with him
I am headmaster of St Pixies In The Field comprehensive.
I will have you know we provide essential support for the neglected minority of the Pixie believers As well as magnificent facilities for 5 of the 7 dwarves, apricot ogglers and that bald man from "The One Show".
Furthermore, we have gone to the expense off providing extra high doorways to allow equal rights for minatours who would otherwise be unable to enter the seat of learning.
This is disgusting, other governors should demand an explanation.
Roger Whitaker is the best head teacher this school has ever had.
For a start ignore the secularist drivel. Such rants are unfortunately symptomatic of all that is depressing in today's Britain.
A pity though that not for the first time of late that the governors of a Catholic school seem unable to grasp the notion that parents are entitled to know what's going on ...
Mr Whittaker was a really good headmaster. best ever had in Our Lady's R.C High School. He was good with the pupils and made sure everything was running smooth. He doesn't deserve this at all. It is not right. BRING MR WHITTAKER BACK!
Mr Whitaker has been the best head teacher the school has ever had. The exam results have been the best since 2004 . We respect this man very much as he also shows respect to us, Mr whitaker you have the full support of all the lower sixth form!
@pablatic - "secularist drivel"? "All that is depressing in today's Britain"? Care to back that up or is your bigotry towards secular ideals as without foundation as your belief in your invisible friend?
@peter - "a Christian country": maybe but only by default of ancient traditions. That doesn't mean it still should be enforced on our children.
"laws that originate with the Ten Commandments" - are you kidding? Most of the ten commandments are unenforceable nonsense.
@peter "Religious studies can instil compassion, tolerance, empathy and morals" - must be why religion has such a good track record of all these things throughout the ages, huh? Are you seriously telling me that you believe that religion is necessary to teach kids to be good people. That is incredibly blinkered.
My beef isn't so much with religious studies. I think all kids should learn about them. All of the religions. They are a part of our history and delve into the psyches of many people today. They can't be ignored. What I object to is the role of religion in both running the schools, and segregating and labelling the kids according to the religion of their parents. The state has a duty to protect children as much as possible, and it is failing out of fearful respect of bronze age myths.
Mushroom - if you do not attend your parish church (& presumably have neglected your son's religious development) how can you expect to get a place for him at a denominational school? The scandal would be for school's to ignore their aims & standards to accommodate parents like you.
If you son is bright enough send him to Hulme - or do you not want to pay?
Mr Whitaker was a great headteacher and a very friendly man,he had high expectations for us all.He made a big difference to our school over the years he was here.Mr Whitaker will be missed dearly by all the staff and pupils here at our ladys.
philstar - it's still a Christian country, hence the oath the Monarch takes, hence the fact that most people in this country who profess a belief, state they are Christian, be it Catholic, C of E etc. Nothing wrong with tradition is there? Yes, most of the commandments have fallen away over time but some still apply - don't steal, don't lie, don't kill. As I said, the commandments are where our laws come from.
Philstar - Laws have changed & adapted over the years. The commandments have provided a legal & moral framework for our society. No, religion isn't necessary to teach kids to be good people, it can be done without religion, but religion can help. Why dismiss it out of hand? Now that really would be blinkered. I'm not religious & I recognise the faults of religion as well as people who don't believe.
I hope to see Mr Whitaker back at Our Lady's, pending whatever investigations are necessary, and hopefully with an apology should it be due to him. My children have enjoyed their time at Our Lady's and will continue to do so. He is highly regarded as Headmaster by all.
Id rather home school my children because i personally think that Roger Whittaker was the best head teacher the school has ever had and it was a pathetic decision to make as we all want him back and we all feel that Our Ladys has a very good reputation and that's why i sent my two children over there because of Roger Whittaker and the good behaviour at the school.
Peter - there are so many holes in your arguments, there isn't space enough here. To separate kids on the basis of something which has no proof of existing and of which all available evidence (historical, geological, anthropological, physical, etc) shows that it is nonsense, is just wrong.
Peter, you keep asserting that tradition should take precedence. That is a fallacy. I really don't care what oath the monarch takes; she has no relevance to my life. And the 10 commandments has no consequence to law the land if all you can find there of the 10 is don't kill (under most circumstances),don't steal and don't lie (under certain circumstances). The rest are either unenforceable, or complete nonsense. We have developed much better morality than the bible can offer. Time moves on.
You are choosing to divide your children based on your religious belief. They are still at an impressionable age, and you are taking advantage of that by mixing unfounded propositions from an ancient book with education. In some cases, with certain types of religion, this can be extremely damaging. And lets not forget this is state funded, we are all paying for this.
You have already admitted that religion is unnesessary for good morals. So the point is, WHY SHOULD any religion be allowed to run schools? Tradition is a weak argument and holds no weight with me or in a progressive society.
ammypam - that's why it's called a faith, a belief. If you are not a believer then you don't have to send your kid to a faith school, but why deny that option to others? philstar - re-read my post. I never said that tradition should take precedence, just that there is nothing wrong with it per se. I never said religion is necessary, just that it can help. You might not support a monarchy, but millions of others do. People divide their children on their own beliefs, religion or otherwise.
Have Your Say
"The new Roman Catholic high school in Chadderton"
What business does religion have in children's education? It's the 21st century. Isn't it about time we were without this level of indoctrination?
By philstarbuckssilkyskills @ 12/01/2010 14:01:15