Sick-leave head teacher resigns

THE head teacher at Chadderton Hall Primary School has resigned.

Joanne Conway has been on sick leave from Chadderton Hall Junior School since early summer.

Patricia Shepherd, her counterpart at neighbouring St Matthew’s Infant School, will continue as acting head teacher of both until Christmas.

Mrs Conway took over from Pauline Adey who retired in December, 2010 after 22 years as head teacher.

Governors were told of her resignation on Friday.

As reported in the Chronicle, the school is being investigated by the Government’s Qualifications and Curriculum Development Agency (QCDA) for alleged cheating in this year’s SATs tests.

The Chronicle understands there is no suggestion that this is linked to Mrs Conway’s resignation.

A council spokesman said: “We cannot comment on the matter because a QCDA investigation is ongoing.”

Chadderton Hall was rated as good in its last Ofsted report, with standards well above average at the end of Year 6.

In 2009 the school’s SATs results were among the best in Oldham. It took part in last year’s national boycott of the tests.

It is understood that children who left the school in the summer have not received their SATs results, which secondaries can use to stream pupils. Teacher assessments have been released instead.