‘Gagging orders could frustrate Greg Wallace investigation’

Suspended: Executive Principal of the Best Start Federation Greg Wallace

Hackney Council investigators leading a probe into suspended superhead Greg Wallace may not be able to find out the full truth because of legally-binding agreements which prevent staff from revealing information, three unions have claimed.

Mr Wallace was suspended from his role as executive principal of the Best Start Federation (BSF) earlier this year amid unproven claims that he did not follow rules around the awarding of an IT contract.

BSF comprises London Fields, Woodberry Down, Burbage, Mandeville and Whitmore Schools, and Mr Wallace had been working towards converting all five into a Multi-Academy Trust, which would have meant they would be freed from local authority control and their budgets would be devolved from the Department for Education.

In a joint statement Hackney NUT, Hackney Unison and Hackney GMB said they had been approached by ex-staff wanting to give evidence.

The statement added: “The unions also believe that the BSF has an unusually large numbers of compromise deals. These deals normally are agreed when a members of staff and their employer can no longer work together. However part of the agreement is a ‘gagging’ clause which stop a member of staff revealing information.”

A council spokesperson said the Town Hall has no authority to set aside the agreements, adding: “If unions have concerns about the compromise agreements they have signed on behalf of their members then this is a matter they can address through their own procedures and advice.”

The Hackney Citizen has made efforts to contact Mr Wallace to hear his side of the story but has been unable to reach him.