Suspended superhead Greg Wallace: new revelation in contract controversy
Quest for the best: Executive Principal Greg Wallace
Suspended superhead Greg Wallace served for a time as company secretary of a firm at the centre of a controversy over the awarding of school IT contracts.
Mr Wallace had been acclaimed by Education Secretary Michael Gove for his achievements at the helm of five local schools.
He was suspended earlier this month amid claims he awarded an IT contract to Tony Zangoura, the director of C2 Technology Ltd, with whom he has a close personal relationship.
The Hackney Citizen has discovered that Mr Wallace had an even closer connection with this company – documents from Companies House show he was its secretary from 1999 until 2004.
Mr Wallace’s shock suspension, and an ongoing investigation by Hackney Council, has sparked intense debate about the future of the five schools under his remit – London Fields, Woodberry Down, Burbage, Mandeville and Whitmore schools.
Though Mr Wallace is yet to comment on the matter, defenders have sprang to his defence online – albeit anonymously.
A woman who said she was a parent of a child at one of Mr Wallace’s schools praised him for having “turned the school around in an unbelievably short duration”, adding: “I am extremely grateful to Mr Wallace for the way in which he has improved education at our school.”
Others claiming to be former colleagues of the beleaguered superhead described him as “supportive” and “the best headteacher I ever worked for”.
Mr Wallace’s suspension could have political ramifications as it could wreck a bid by his five schools to free themselves from local authority control.
The five are managed by the Best Start Federation, whose governing body wants to convert the schools into a Multi-Academy Trust.
Currently all five operate within Hackney Council’s Learning Trust, which gives the Town Hall the right to intervene in matters of school management.
If the Federation is successful in its bid to free itself from local authority control, its budget will be devolved entirely to the Department for Education, making it unaccountable to Hackney Council.
Greg Wallace had been working toward this goal, and the intended conversion date was 1 May 2013.
Jane Kemsley, Best Start Federation’s acting vice chair of governors, said: “The investigation has put this on hold. It might well stop it. We don’t know.”
Hackney Council’s press office has refused to comment on Mr Wallace’s pay terms while on suspension, or on the details of the governing body’s involvement.
The Hackney Citizen has made efforts to contact Mr Wallace to give him the right of reply but has been unable to reach him.
Note: The editor of the Hackney Citizen, Keith Magnum, was a governor of the Best Start Federation until October 2010. While on the governing body he was unaware of Mr Wallace’s personal relationship with Tony Zangoura.
Where did these anonymous backer give support online. Everyone I know hates him.
@David Craig: Please see the comments on our previous story here: Hackney superhead Greg Wallace suspended – Ed.
For the sake of fairness people who are not traditional best start fans know that this is being done purely to stop the academy conversion.The leadership of the learning Trust were determined to stop that whatever it took. This is dirty tricks not a real issue. The kind of scrutiny they put the federation under would lead to suspensions of many more education staff in many more schools. The council stood to lose half a million pounds if conversion went ahead. Enough said?
I am happy not to be anonymous. I don’t know whether he has broken the rules. I will wait to see where the evidence leads, and make my mind up accordingly.
I will say, however, that he has transformed London Fields School, where my child goes. It is a happy, productive school, as far as I can see. For the record, I was against academy status.
I sincerely hope this is not a political campaign because it will blow up in the face of those pursuing him. Personally, I fear my child is being used as a political pawn.
I guess some people remain anonymous because they – wrongly or rightly – fear being abused online.
Its about time someone looked at the councils learning trust….[Deleted by moderator] … Hypocracy. Okoruwas employment as director of education??? Ask all the best senior consultants why they have left the trust to get to the real story. They should never have started this.
May I add on a dull journalistic point…
I have come to this debate fresh today and I don’t understand the comment (above) about anonymous support. The comments below the article are a mix of anon/named and for/against. If you can’t find someone to be go on the record, then maybe you are not asking the right people. I was a local paper reporter/sub for 10 years, and we were never allowed to use anonymous quotes in a story.
You obviously never worked for the learning trust. People are afraid for their jobs.
It is a good point you are making.
I was referring specifically to the comment that parent supporters of the head teacher were remaining anonymous.
[Deleted by moderator] …
I ask @Hackney Citizen why are you not including this in your updates to the story???
It would give the readers a clearer view on what the actual issue is about. Which is Hackney Learning Trust do not want the federation to convert into academies as this will take away some of their funding.
It is true that Hackney Council’s Learning Trust needs to be investigated. There are all sorts of stories of bad recruitment etc and that Steve Belks gave a job to an ex Headteacher called Martin Buck and his last school (Lister in Newham) was judged as satisfactory with satisfactory for teaching a few months after he left. Lots of people want an anonymous independent review of how HLT operate. Hackney Citizen should be asking questions to the Council.
Mr Wallace didn’t just give a friend a job, he gave a very lucrative IT contract to his boyfriend … [Deleted by moderator]. I am very disappointed that his stupidity may jeopardise the future of the federation. Many are against academies for this very reason … [Deleted by moderator]. Let’s just hope nothing more will come to light, the story has been running for days.
The Chair of Governors says he knew?? Read the statement issued by the governors.
It states that the chair of governors knew about the CONNECTION all along.
His Sexuality is irrelevant and does not need to be mentioned.
I agree with EDMUND @Hackney Citizen Why aren’t you including updates that go further into the story?
Its obvious there is more to this story than what we are just being given.
Wood and Okoruwa will want this to be relevant.
I agree with (3) hackney anon.
So what if he was a director of the company in 2004. Best Start’s press release says, “The first contract was signed with C2 Technology in 2009.”
The Chair of governors knew all about the ‘relationship’.
hackney anon looks right to me when he or she says “this is being done purely to stop the academy conversion. The leadership of the learning Trust were determined to stop that whatever it took. This is dirty tricks not a real issue. The kind of scrutiny they put the federation under would lead to suspensions of many more education staff in many more schools. The council stood to lose half a million pounds if conversion went ahead. Enough said? ”
On the other comments page in another article about this there is loads of stuff about the Learning Trust. Certain names come up again and again and again and there is an obvious loathing of them – the word bullying seems right. This is a misuse of power.
And why has nobody asked if Greg Wallace gained personally or if the IT was any good??
Because of what Hackney anon says.
This story needs to pursue a new avenue.
BFJ
Hackney Learning Trust leadership are universally mistrusted by schools apart from those in the Primary Advantage Federation. Questions need to be asked in the council, DFE, OFSTED? What has happened at Morningside to stop Academisation? Oh yes Primary advantage. Who paid for Tricia to go on a shopping trip to New York with her cronies? Yes that was us.
Why can the Learning Trust veto new headship appointments against the wishes of the governors- see Parkwood school? Ask the governors of Betty Layward what pressure they are under to take a crony as exec head.
Why are excellent headteachers sidelined to let the cronies have more schools? See Sian Davies, Michelle Thomas? Ask what happened at Princess May during OFSTED? …[Deleted by moderator].
All headteachers have to comply with financial regulations – we are dealing with public money. The Learning Trust’s own report on the Best Start Federation (Liz Thompson 4 July 2013, countersigned by Tricia Okonura) clearly states how marvellous they think Greg Wallace is. I do not think Hackney has any view on preventing academisation; they have even advised secondary heads in the past to “go academy” as so many had already made that move. On the face of it, in relation to the reported reasons for his suspension, this issue is about breach of financial regulations. However good/bad he is as a headteacher he still needs to have integrity in his financial dealings, doesn’t he?
Yes all schools have to comply with financial regs but
-This irregularity occurred years ago why is it suddenly such an issue now and someone needs to look into the lack of transparency about employing family members used by senior Hackney officials (see other thread).
– Teams of auditors were called into all GW’s schools without notice to find a problem. This is unheard of before. Schools are usually given notice.
– HLT were furious with the plans for best start to turn academy, this is no secret.
– it would mean a loss of half a million pounds to them
– they were pro secondary academies but not primary – no primary academies in Hackney to date
– HLT used to be pro GW but is now determined to stop the academisation at all costs as GW has discovered.
A little integrity all round would be nice. As a parent and a governor I have been shocked at the lengths they have gone to. Hackney is a great place to send your children to school now but its leaders have become power crazed and should be stopped by higher authorities otherwise more good people will leave. Ask anyone in Hackney education how many great consultants have left recently rather than compromise themselves.
I don’t know about Greg Wallace. I have seen him in the building and I saw him on ITV and I think most people say he is good a turning schools round but not very friendly.
But I do know I’ve worked for the Learning trust for several years and it is not a healthy environment. Staffs come and go all the time and we do not get proper management to help us do our work. Everything will be quiet for a while and then suddenly something kicks off and people are blamed for not doing things they did not know they had to do. You never know who is going to leave next. It is often at a day or less notice period. You hear stories about the people at the top and nobody knows what to believe.
Everyone in the place seems really worried to cover their backs and that is about it.
I am looking for a job elsewhere. I have never been so unhappy at work.
And I HATE the Trust Alert emails we get when schools have Ofsteds and everything has to stop because they all go over and cover things up to get the school through.
Mark King (17). You are right in your comments. Add Queensbridge Primary School and Debeauvoir Primary School to the schools you have already mentioned. The Governors were excluded from decisions which resulted in the two schools having to form a partnership …[Deleted by moderator]. The fact that it might not be best for the children did not even come into the equation. How Vijay Bhanaut managed to negotiate a huge retirement fund for himself without involving the Governors or the Chair of the Finance Committee is beyond me…. [Deleted by moderator]. The Governors were not even aware he and the rest of the Senior Management was leaving until all the deals had been struck. How is that legal? It is alleged that the his money came out of the school surplus. Surely if that is the case that money belongs to the children…[Deleted by moderator].
Purity (21)
‘The Governors were not even aware he and the rest of the Senior Management was leaving until all the deals had been struck. How is that legal?’
I don’t know if legal, but it stinks.
Who has the recording? Email it to Cllr Rita Krishna.
At some point, these councillors need to be held to account – they must know Heads are fed up with HLT.
Or are they all sitting in a room now listening to Wood bleat on about ‘improvements’.
It is well-known that Wooden is only staying on because he thinks he deserves to be Sir Wood.
Wood cannot teach. He has contributed nothing other than throwing chairs around in his office… Ask Chris Cole, former Head at St Mathias, now part of the Primary Advantages Federation. St Mathias is where Gillian Brady, the Head of Primary, reads SATS questions out to children. Why does she do that at that school? Has she nothing else to do but perform a role that a teaching assistant can perform?
Why this has only come to light now when the academy status is imminent is the question! Investigations into the bad practice that goes on in the federation schools should have been conducted a long time ago but people that work for Greg are too scared to come forward and go against the principles of the federation. Maybe if enough of the ex-employees got together something could be done to protect the children in all the schools. There are many positive things about the way the schools teach but there are many hidden negatives too which the learning trust have simply ignored. If nothing comes of this investigation its only a matter of time before something more serious happens in one of the schools and I’d hate to see a child or member of staff get hurt. There needs to be more control by the learning trust of how things are monitored – on inspection visits to schools its all very easy to put on a show but what about considering what it is really like day to day – maybe teachers and employers should be given a chance to speak honestly and anonymously so that something can be done to really put each child’s future first.
INVESTIGATE HACKNEY(22)
Thank you but Councillor Rita Krishna was made aware of what happened at DeBeauvoir. Even the fact that the Head Teacher was bullying a child and that there was a smear campaign against his family. She chose to align with the Trust rather than worry about the child and try and get justice for him.
It appears the the Hackney Learning Trust has just taken on the same ways the Learning Trust operated.
No one vets who contracts to the schools as they all looking after each other. There is one cover up after another, but they do nothing wrong. Gregg Wallace is a shining example of … [Deleted by moderator] … the attitude of, I’m alright Jack, stuff you lot. The main losers are the staff and children. We as tax payers isnt as bad as Hackney have always stuffed us. But, people are becoming aware of what these people are doing are they are being exposed, one by one. This is just the start, watch this space.
Strong feelings here and a lot of truth of just how corrupt the Trust is. The Boards of Governors have more power than they know. The Bullying Head, walked away with a big pay off and the person that backed him all the way was promoted. It could only happen in Hackney. Of course all the high earners are looking after their selves and family, you cannot do anything about it? That’s the way they think, but we can, write about what you know, report it, complain in writing, expose these people for what they really are, leaches and parasites that think they are beyond the law. Support your local papers and bring these people to account.
It is clear mr wallace is a very good educator, but lousy on governance. He has worked very hard to limit any oversight to his mates – the consultation period forvthe academy was designed to exclude any effective input. Most of the relevent documents were not provided and the consulation period was over the holidays. Passam was aware of the conflicts and therefore failed as chairand should be sacked. Let wallace continue as head but ensure a proper board has oversight.
No-one is condoning not following procedures by Mr Wallace if that is the case but these contracts have been running for a while and it is only now that they are brought to light by the Hackney Learning Trust. This coincides with potential Academy conversion of the federation and loss of “control” by the local authority … [Deleted by moderator].
DIREctor
The Bosom Buddy Club, also known as Hackney Learning Trust, are known for giving jobs to chums… [Deleted by moderator]. Are you reading this DFE???
There seem to be many facets to this fascinating story and from what I have read here and elsewhere there appear to be deep-rooted problems with the education authority in Hackney. I fear we are only scratching the surface.
Mr Wallace is an outstanding Head and also an outstanding teacher i know this first hand because i was in his class 10 years ago me and my little sister both went to Woodberry Down Community Primary School his first school that he took over. I was in year 6 at the time and im not to proud to say but i was one of the trouble makers in the school my whole English class had the worst of the worst in, no one wanted to teach us you could tell the teachers hated to take our class but when Mr Wallace took over it was one of my best subjects by the end of the he Mr Wallace always had time to talk to me even after i left. He was a type of guy that was strict but fun at the same time Mr Wallace has done alot for me over the years that ive known him and every time i came back into that school to see how things are doing i find out hes taken over another school and turning it into another outstanding school hearing him getting suspended has made me feel so angry inside to hear that they can do that to some that has done nothing but help and turn troubling kids and rubbish schools into outstanding ones i have never looked up to anyone in my life before but if i did it would be Mr Greg Wallace. I can tell you this now if it weren’t for Mr Wallace i wouldn’t have passed my SATS exams or learnt how to write or read properly.
Del the Passam you refer to has an MBE after his name for a reason. The reason is services to education in hackney which he received while a director of the learning trust. Which they themselves put him forward for. Peter Passam MBE has been a governor for 12 years there as well as a director so by him being chair and knowing HLT also was aware and had told the school before to use C2 as they were cheaper then themselves. So before you start suggesting who should be sacked find out all the facts.
Although my name may give what I want out of all this away – JUST DO IT.
INVESTIGATE HACKNEY EDUCATION
Not just their heavily cheated SATS results with Learning Trust staff being readers for target schools…
investigate what all staff really perceive in terms of their knowledge about teaching and approachability.
There’s been a lot said about Greg! Go Greg!!!
Just to point out, that what Tony does in the schools is also fantastic. The computers are very well maintained and he cares about that. It is not unusual to see Tony leaving school at 7.30am – if something has happened with the server.
It is not unusual to see him leaving at 7.30pm…
Tony and Matt from C2 have been every-giving in their service.
If we really are going to have to use HLT IT support (they were at Whitmore and Burbage before – if you remember that…) PLEASE HELP!”!!!!!!!!!
And C2 are also cheaper than Hackney – that’s what we are not meant to know… SHH
The feds were a capricious monster created by a despot and now the despots 2nd favourite monster has rebelled so she has thrown all of her toys out of her pram. She gave school after school to the Best Start Federation and then GW tried to go academy and why wouldn’t he? His schools would be much better off financially. She set the auditors on his trail to try and find something, anything that would scupper him and this is the best they could come up with. It’s a shame so many good people have left the borough and that no one is stopping the destruction. Where are you Alan Wood? DFE, OFSTED? Silence is not golden any more – do something. This story is so multi faceted it leaves many of us reeling. The Borgias had nothing on this.
I have just completed my first year as a newly qualified teacher within one of the Best Start Federation Schools and I am truly indebted to Greg Wallace and the other staff that have supported me during my entrance to teaching. Over the last year I have received an immense amount of support and training which has allowed me to reach my full potential as a teacher, and in turn provide the children under my care with the best possible education. I am shocked and outraged to read some of the comments posted by people who refer to Mr Wallace and the Best Start Federation in a negative manner. As someone who works very closely on a daily basis with children who are taught under the guidance of Mr Wallace, I can say that any negative comments are unfounded and feeble. The children that I teach and come into contact with each day have an excitement for learning, are eager to expand their knowledge, have impeccable behaviour, are extremely polite and respectful of others and most importantly are happy. It is a great shame that in the midst of this calamity all of these wonderful achievements are so quickly forgotten.
@in the garden
Wallace and the [financial and staffing powers of the] board have been suspended by the Council because the conflict of interest has not been dealt with in a satisfactory way.
The board’s role is deal with issues of governance and conflicts.
Passam has said Wallace disclosed the conflict to board.
If Wallace has misled the board then he is culpable.
If Wallace has done everything in his power to disclose and manage the conflict and the failing is the boards.
The chair of the board is Passam, and if the failing is the board’s then it is the board that needs to be rolled.
However at the same time this board is also overseeing and approving the use of the academy process to limit the oversight of the federation to Wallace and his handpicked governors – and the removal of places of elected governors. This means the new board will only answer to the DfE and therefore requires Whitehall to do their job.
If the council is using this suspension to run its own anti academy agenda, which is possible given we are talking about hackney council, then this whole episode reinforces the need for academies as the main thing they do is remove the council influence from education with the proviso the lines of accountability are clear.
If your comment that the learning trust actually instructed the best start federation to employ C2 as the computer providers and then are using this to have a go at Wallace is proven then the councils position will not be defensible.
When all the facts come out someone will have been responsible for putting the federation and our kids education at risk. I hope they are not protected by people such who genuflect to the MBE and “experience” when neither protect us from incompetence, dishonesty or political intrigue whatever the case may be
There needs to be a serious investigation into the Hackney Learning Trust and the Learning Trust before. Where are our MP’s ? Are they for US or friends of the Trust. Email or write to your MP and complain, they are paid to support us, we voted for them, let’s see what they can really do or are they just another waste of money?
On the point of Gregg’s boyfriend, if he has nothing to hide, show us the contracts and the money charged. Let’s also see other quotes and a fair play field for contractors. Having worked in a school as a Site Manager, I have seen the Contractors who over charge and have contracts for life through their friends . There are fantastic tradesmen in Hackney who will never get a chance to price work, because people like Gregg Wallace, are looking after themselves. The truth is, he will be paid off and face no charges … [Deleted by moderator]
[Deleted by moderator]…
Whitmore Primary School … [Deleted by moderator]…
Why have a school with 90 percent black children and no black role models ? I was there for black history month and they played the beetles ?
Why went ofsted visited all the children with behavioral problems where put in the rooftop class rooms and taken on trips for two days ? Up to 30 children? It was not a true representation of the school.
All will be revealed very soon and people need to realise this has happened for a reason.
… [Deleted by moderator] …
There is a God …[Deleted by moderator]
Wallace you will fall hard … [Deleted by moderator] … dinner lady duties at the 5 schools he once controlled, cleaning tables, filling the water jugs and get dirty cleaning the streets with the recycling team! Justice for all !
chocolate (41) unfortunately this seems to be a current trend in Hackney. The same happened at Queensbridge Primary School and at one school a white teacher who manhandled a pupil has been promoted to become an assistant head at another primary school in Hackney. Whereas a black teacher who is accused of manhandling a pupil was immediately suspended! Equality HLT style!
Yes it does seem a particular trend in Hackney where mostly white female middle-class teachers are fast tracked to middle management and senior positions. In our school we have one who reached Senior Management within five years of being at the school, (the school was the only she had ever worked in). Another teacher was promoted to middle management within a year of being at the school and had been teaching only two/three years she is now a member of the Senior Management at another school. Not bad for someone who has only taught for roughly 6 years. Another White teacher at our school has gone onto a Senior position at another establishment after being in teaching for only 5 years. We also have someone who joined the school Nursery as an NQT three years ago and for the past year she has been receiving training to become the school’s new Early Years Co-ordinator. We have an practitioner who talks down to the children and parents and she has been chosen by Gillian Brady to become a moderator! Hackney seems a great place to work if your face fits with Tricia and her friends. If it doesn’t than regardless of how good you are they are going to get rid of you.
Dear ‘Chocolate’,
Sadly, I need to write to you for the same reasons as I write to many of the anti-Wallace/Fed brigade.
The reason I am writing concerns your communication skills and standard of written English.
(Or rather, the absence of any standard.)
There is much you can be working on to achieve an acceptable standard.
I will not highlight all your errors – time is short today. However…
‘I have witness this personally.’
SHOULD HAVE BEEN
‘I have witnessED this personally.’
Another example for you…
‘Why went Ofsted visited all the children with behavioural problems where put in the rooftop class rooms and taken on trips for two days ?’
SHOULD HAVE BEEN
‘Why COMMA WHEN Ofsted visited COMMA WERE all the children with behavioural problems DELETE [where] put in the rooftop class rooms and taken on trips for two days ?’
When/if Wallace comes back, or does Community Service as you charmingly suggest, perhaps you could enrol yourself on an intensive writing course, with a focus on grammar and punctuation.
I believe there are many providers of such services. People like you are a goldmine to them.
Kind regards,
Stephan
PS Am sorry I have not had time to edit your posting fully. Life is too short!
KT,
I agree with your views on Ms G Brady!!!!
Gillian Brady is hardly fit to choose moderators, if the allegations on this site are true.
It is alleged she is
[a] Head of Primary
[b] does not possess a degree!!!
How can Hackney Learning Trust promote someone to this revered position when she would be incapable of undertaking teacher training with her reported portfolio of academic qualifications?
Perhaps it is Gillian herself that needs to be moderated.
DOWNWARDS.
FED UP HACKNEY SENIOR MANAGER
We must support Greg Wallace; his vision and total commitment has meant that the schools under his remit have achieved excellent results. He does not tolerate mediocrity in teachers, his team within the schools display an energy and zest that is inspiring and exhilarating. The children have a thirst for learning within an environment that encourages them to challenge and discover, giving them a solid primary foundation. Greg Wallace’s primary concern has always been the children, what a shame the Hackney Learning Trust have shown their true colours in their ‘bully boy’ tactics.
“God gives his hardest battles to his strongest soldiers”
FIGHT THEM WALLACE
WeFalDwnButWeGetBkUp
As with Woody, Wallace and Stevie Beck, its just the Old Pals act all over again. I personally wouldnt want them to sweep my street, as they would get that all wrong anyway. Glad to see them coming unstuck at the seams.
“I live in the Managerial Age, in a world of “Admin.” The greatest evil is not now done in those sordid “dens of crime” that Dickens loved to paint. It is not done even in concentration camps and labour camps. In those we see its final result. But it is conceived and ordered (moved, seconded, carried, and minuted) in clean, carpeted, warmed and well-lighted offices, by quiet men( and women) with white collars and cut fingernails and smooth-shaven cheeks who do not need to raise their voices. Hence, naturally enough, my symbol for Hell is something like the bureaucracy of a police state or the office of a thoroughly nasty business concern.”
CS Lewis
Whatever the outcome of ‘Wallacegate’ there are a number issues that call into question the running of HLT, governance and the growth of The Federations. Not all the schools in both Hackney Federations wanted to be federated and many were hostile takeovers-with human casualities. It is not all good or bad but many shades of grey.
There are stories of change and better education for some of the children of Hackney and of overworked,victimised teachers that do need to be told. This thread has been fascinating on a number of levels -let us hope we all get to hear ‘the truth’; but I seriously doubt.
“I live in the Managerial Age, in a world of “Admin.” The greatest evil is not now done in those sordid “dens of crime” that Dickens loved to paint. It is not done even in concentration camps and labour camps. In those we see its final result. But it is conceived and ordered (moved, seconded, carried, and minuted) in clean, carpeted, warmed and well-lighted offices, by quiet men( and women) with white collars and cut fingernails and smooth-shaven cheeks who do not need to raise their voices. Hence, naturally enough, my symbol for Hell is something like the bureaucracy of a police state or the office of a thoroughly nasty business concern.”
CS Lewis
Well said Head 20. Well said!
I am wholeheartedly appalled that my previous blog entry was edited to omit reference to TO. This site is obviously bearing much closer inspection by HLT than the attention paid to their own schools.
And no surprise when you list the accusations:
senior managers without degrees
senior consultants exiting due to culture of greed and nepotism at HLT
jobs given to friends and family
governors being misled and deceived
SATS cheating
anti-academy plot against the Best Start Federation
smear campaigns against Wallace and others
There is a patent lack of trust in Hackney Learning Trust.
I would urge that people contact their councillors and the local MP and if parents are on this site or people know parents at the schools they start mobilising support. The HLT probably deliberately suspended GW at this point so that it would all be lost during the summer holidays.
It was uplifting and motivating to read the above posts supporting The Federation’s work; I have always felt very supported by Greg and the BSF team. I have been working for Greg for nearly 6 years. Initially I was unsure about whether I wanted a career in education however, when I started to work at Greg’s school I was immediately taken with his vision to ensure every child in his care had the best possible start in life.
On a day to day basis I am incredibly proud to be part of such a dedicated team. All the teachers and staff are committed, passionate and incredibly enthusiastic about the children. Ultimately, we are driven by our pupils and we work hard to ensure they make the best progress they can.
In addition, Tony and his team are equally dedicated to the Federation; they supply 5 schools with an incredibly high level of support in ICT. Their work is invaluable and also completely driven by securing the best possible provision for our children.
Greg Wallace has always been an outstanding head teacher and is an exceptional executive principle. He is constantly looking to drive his team forward and continues to give the children of Hackney incredible opportunities to enrich their lives.
I hope this gets sorted as quickly as possible. The Federation should absolutely still become an academy. We’ll move mountains.
‘I Love Hackney’,
A GOOD LIST – WE NEED A ROUND UP.
but you missed:
Failure to advertise key posts (including the ones held by Sian Davies from the Primary Advantage, Greg Wallace from Best Starts, Stephen Hall at Orchard/Southwold, Janice Thomas at Seabright, Brady’s ‘moderators’ etc etc) THIS IS REVEALING OF CORRUPT HR PRACTICE FROM HR SPECIALISTS that cost the tax payer a fortune
EXCESSIVE SPENDING ON HR – AT ONE POINT, NEARLY £2 MILLION+ A YEAR
Rapid response strategies to prop up dodgy schools, like happened at Morningside some time ago – Wood did a deal with Sir Michael Wilshaw to smooth it over
Large amounts of money spent on hotel bills for Wood, Belk, Okoruwa etc to go to LAVISH COUNTRY HOUSE HOTELS
Greg Wallace given the largest federation AT EXCLUSION OF OTHER BIDS revealing of corrupt HR practice from HR SPECIALISTS (sic, sic, sic)
Okoruwa’s international travel bill – so she can learn about ‘good practice’ – and ENTERTAIN HER CRONIES
SENIOR CONSULTANTS LEAVING THE TRUST SO TERRIFIED of follow-up actions that they leave without pay rather than disclose where they will move on to
AN INSIDER LINK TO PLANNED HACKNEY OFSTED INSPECTIONS – Okoruwa is then the conduit to spread this information to her many vulnerable schools
An ATTACK CULTURE from senior HLT staff – on the day that the HLT received the KS2 SAT results senior staff sat in a room and DEVISED LIST OF THE ‘WORST 20 SCHOOLS’
A culture of dishonesty – LIES ARE TOLD SO FREQUENTLY THE TELLERS COME TO BELIEVE THEM AS TRUTH – these lies stem from a certain person in HLT whose mind is so damaged by failure and ambition she cannot tell right from wrong or up from down
RECKLESS SPENDING ON HLT PROPAGANDA – eg £13,000 on a ‘giant blue bunny’ that was only ever used twice – location currently unknown
MORE RECKLESS SPENDING ON HLT PROPAGANDA – the book called Revolution in a Decade – which starts with the sentence, ‘In November 2000 Hackney was in chaos…’ WELL IT IS GREAT NOW THOUGH WOOD – everyone’s really behind you…
Councillors accused of “closing ranks” and creating a “wall of silence” when issues arise
SIAN DAVIES ALLOWED TO TAKE HER DOGS ON HOLIDAY DURING TERM TIME – Okoruwa is governor of DAVIES schools – thus the release for DAVIES from her contract
Perverse practices like calling schools to HLT when SATS results are poor, but never congratulating the same schools when the results are good – INSTEAD THE FOCUS GOES TO THE NEW FAILING SCHOOLS
FLAWED RECRUITMENT by HR and senior Trust staff – inflicting weak leaders where a previous, so called, ‘weak’ leader has existed – and then defending this to governors and key staff
Subsequent payments and GAGGING ORDERS to the said staff
THAT NONE OF THE HLT SIPS HAVE EVER RUN AN OUTSTANDING SCHOOL…
That at least one of the SIPs has behaved in an inappropriate manner, sexually, whilst at one of the lavish conferences
Is it any wonder there is no respect for these people?
WHAT ARE THE POLITICIANS DOING? WHY SHOULD OUR HARD WORKING TEACHERS HAVE TO PUT UP WITH THIS?
WE’VE HAD ENOUGH OF HACKNEY’S LEARNING TRUST.
Unite and fight.
I think I must be missing something here. A top head is suspended because his close friend had been awarded the IT contract for his schools. The head had already highlighted this to the chairman of the board of governors and had been given the OK.
So can anybody tell me why the Hackney Learning Trust has decided to waste public funds on a what looks to me like a witch hunt? Who authorised teams of auditors, who authorised the suspension and who has ok’d the legal costs that will undoubtedly follow? Lets face it non of these will be insubstantial and the losers are likely to be the kids, so no surprises there. I’d like to know what the cost is to date and what has been budgeted for this charade. I’m certain our kids will not benefit from this and neither will the Borough of Hackney
I was a pupil in Mr Wallace’s class at Woodberry Down School ten years ago. Mr Wallace was without doubt the best teacher that any child could ask for.He truly cared about every pupil and always inspired us to want to achieve our best. Before Mr Wallace took over our school, it was appalling. Teachers could not control their classes and bullying was rife. The school I left was a entirely different place. Mr Wallace employed teachers who worked hard and motivated us to learn; he also educated us about morality and the importance of community which inevitably helped to stop the widespread bullying at the time. He taught my class for about a term before a new teacher took over. I always remember him being such a presence in our Year 6 class – even when he was no longer teaching us directly.I found maths particularly difficult. He would always ask to see my books to check that i was producing my best work and would celebrate my achievements in assemblies. I am now studying English at Reading University and hope to become a teacher in the future. I would be so proud if I could be half the teacher that Mr Wallace is. His ex-pupils and our parents will always be grateful for the way that he helped transform our education and improve our lives !
Questions need to be asked and ANSWERED. This is a Town Hall scandal that shows politicians behaving in an outrageous fashion. £13k on a bunny???
Heads should roll.
Dear Stephan 44
I am glad your on board. I needed one of Wallace’s pet to help correct my grammar as I have no time to do so. My son’s tablet is giving me such trouble to type messages. But am so glad you are there to correct everyone. I was going to write in capitals but I didnt want to take up to much of your time! As for your comment about me taking up a course I dont need to to but thank you for your kind suggestion. I can feel that you have alot of love for wallace and he may have had great experiences with greggy boy! But there are many many people who have not and am one of them. You have no idea of what I had experienced!
… [Deleted by moderator]…
Stephan 44 please feel free to correct my grammar am very busy and I left out the punctuation marks so you can have a frill filling them in! Hopefully my laptop would be ready today from the repair shop. Then I could really impress you then. Xxxxx cheers Stephan 44
On Gregg Wallace’s contractor boyfriend. In all honesty, what are the chances of the person who gives contracts out, finding that his own boyfriend is the best person to give the contract too. The answer is simple, absolute impossibility, as there are just to many better contractors out there who were never given the chance. If he were not his boyfriend, there would never be a contract given. But as Hackney think everyone is that STUPID, it makes perfect sense. With all the other leaches in the trust who have given jobs to relations, let us be shown the other job applicants who were turned down and the reasons why their relations got the jobs? Feel a FOI application coming on.
[Deleted by moderator] …
I know my friend cannot wait for the day wallace will have to answer for himself, it appears he was too hasty in assuming himself beyond accountability.
[Deleted by moderator] … shame no-one was interested earlier, …[Deleted by moderator]…even when my friend told them exactly how bad things were.
To 59 and 61,
Wallace is not a racist. In fact, if you knew anything at all, his previous two partners prior to the Zangoura affair were both, as it happened, black.
Racism is a serious allegation – you have played a dodgy hand. Who wrote all the literacy units used by the schools for Black History Month? Greg Wallace.
Who wrote the Marshall Taylor project?? Greg Wallace
Who directed the UK premiere of the play ‘We Are The Dream’? http://woodberrydown.org.uk/#/watd-home/4519866382
Greg Wallace
Which Hackney Head is well-known for not tolerating mediocre and inadequate staff?
Hi Greg, Oh dear, looks like I touched a raw nerve.
The truth will out anyway.
… [Deleted by moderator]…
Go Greg go – in our hearts forever!!
Underpants
The point is that whatever personal grievance you have against Greg Wallace you must see that what HLT are doing here is wrong. Two wrongs don’t make a right. I love the fact that HLT hang, draw and quarter heads over SATS results and don’t look at the massive achievements outstanding Hackney primaries are making with groups that under perform in most other places. FSM, BCRB, BA, TKW all above national average. This is what makes a difference to lives not IT contracts.
This is a quote from Hackney legal department. “The Governing Body of a maintained community school, where the delegated budget, exercise significant powers relating to employment as set out in school staffing(England)Regulations 2009, SI 2009/2680 (the regulations), Parts 1 & 2.
“Under Part 2, Clause 12, it is the Governing Body who are to determine the nature of the appointment”
Could someone please pass this on to the their Governing Body as they themselves have not got a clue. It appears that the former Learning Trust far exceeded their own remit and acted illegally, but Hackney do not want to do anything about it, as it would reflect on them. I will keep saying it, WHERE ARE OUR MP’s??????? Forgot the poor excuses of councilors, as these are just no bodies that wanted to get into politics. The only time you ever hear of them is if they are arrested for something.
[Deleted by moderator]
Reply to 62 liar, …[Deleted by moderator] … In my daughter’s school, which I visited for black history month, to my surprise, I sat listening to the beetles ? Previously to that, there was always african drumming, dancing and talks about black heros ! ? And what has happened to all the teachers and TAs of colour . They have rapidly disappeared! …[Deleted by moderator] … Im finding it quite disturbing that they are all replaced by fresh white graduates. …[Deleted by moderator] … When the majority of children in the schools are Black ! Where are the role models ? Why are all the teachers looking like the children of the corn ! Why has this news, come out during the holidays ? So people can forget ? And why was one man given so much power and money ?. Temptation is powerful, …[Deleted by moderator] … Come on parents what is going on in our schools !,,,,?.
Greg …[Deleted by moderator]… You have your sheeps but they will crumble with you. GOD IS GOOD!
I agree 69 topup all those who are different are so alienated that there is no choice but to move on. Maybe things will be different, no federation, no academy, no Greg and his one type fits all.
… [Deleted by moderator]…
How many black teachers and support staff were employed prior to the take over compared with a year later under best start?
… [Deleted by moderator]…
Is the entire senior leadership team exclusively white across each school in the federation? In Hackney?!?
Comments are now closed.