‘Hundreds’ sign petition calling for reinstatement of superhead Greg Wallace
Suspended: Executive Principal Greg Wallace
A petition backing suspended ‘superhead’ Greg Wallace has been launched by parents who want him reinstated.
It emerged in July that Mr Wallace had been suspended amid claims about the awarding of an IT contract.
The petition, which was hand delivered to the Department for Education today, calls for his reinstatement as Executive Principal of the Best Start Federation, which comprises London Fields, Woodberry Down, Burbage, Mandeville and Whitmore Schools.
Tara Byrne, a parent of a child at Woodberry Down primary school, said hundreds of people – including some teachers – supported the campaign.
She added: “Hackney Council and Michael Gove need to do the right thing by the parents and children at Best Start schools and reinstate Greg Wallace. He’s been a fantastic headteacher who has driven up standards for children.
“The fact that so many parents and staff have signed a petition in such a short time shows the strength of support for Greg. Now the politicians need to listen to parents and save Greg and our children’s education.”
Local authorities have a statutory duty to investigate allegations made against headteachers in local schools.
A Hackney Council spokesperson said they could not comment on the case while the investigation is ongoing.
The Hackney Citizen has made efforts to speak to Mr Wallace to hear his side of the story but has been unable to reach him.
Related:
‘Gagging orders could frustrate Greg Wallace investigation’
Suspended superhead Greg Wallace: new revelation in contract controversy
About time!!! Hopefully they listen to what the staff and parents want!!!
Hopefully they’ll do the right thing now and reinstate Greg Wallace ASAP!!!
I think this whole saga is one of the most outrageous things ever. It is fuelled by greed, selfishness …[Deleted by moderator]…. Hackney learning trust should be ashamed. But they won’t be …[Deleted by moderator]…
God does send his greatest battles to his strongest warriors. Good luck Greg wallace. Don’t let HLT win. There is a moral purpose we all need to fight for now if hackney education is ever to be safe. Get Greg back then get Greg to get the HLT closed down for good.
There was a protest outside Mandeville last week as HLT invaded the beststart governors meeting.
More to come!! HLT want to split up the fed. DON’T LET THEM WIN.
There were nearly 600 signatures… and there would have been more but HLT demanded petitions stop! This is a violation of human rights. One was stolen.
Greg has hundreds of loyal supporters who will never give up protesting his innocence. …[Deleted by moderator].
There will be hundreds more that want to sign the petition, does anyone know how we can go about it?
Justice for Greg!!!
I also heard about the protest outside Mandeville. Good to hear his supporters are standing by him. HLT can fabricate lies but they can’t hide the fact he is an OUTSTANDING leader. BEST START for EVERY CHILD!!!!!!
Everyone is saying that the IT support the schools are now getting is hopeless. The technicians simply can’t work at the speed tony could… and I’ve heard that they are massively overcharging!
Parents need to get really angry and start to demand a public meeting with Trisha Okoruwa. She needs to explain her own …[Deleted by moderator] .. stances…[Deleted by moderator].
The investigation is not that at all. It is a witch hunt against one person. One day we will get to hear from that person… And if what I’ve heard is correct then hackney learning trust will be exposed …[Deleted by moderator]… as they trump up allegations. Some of the claims are so preposterous that staff at HLT are likely to be marched out for good.
I’ve been living and working in Hackney for years and I have to say I am ashamed of the actions of Hackney Learning Trust. Good headteachers are few and far between, we should be protecting the ones who have worked so hard for so long and for so many. Education in Hackney has improved because of heads like Mr Wallace. Running a school is one of the most difficult jobs there is and he has shown that he is capable of improving not just one school, but five!!
Another thing is that there were loads of posts on the other articles last summer claiming all kinds of HLT …[Deleted by moderator].. hypocrisy… Weekends in posh hotels for Alan wood and his chums, foreign trips for okoruwa, thousands spent on a stuffed toy… They’ve wasted hundreds of thousands of pounds and nobody ever seems to challenge them … Hackney councillors need to wake up and do what they were elected to do. We won’t vote u back in.
Hackney learning trust behave like a totalitarian regime. We must see the trust closed for good. Turn all hackney primaries into academies. It is the only way this will improve.
I’m ashamed to be working in this borough. There are many other head teachers on okoruwa’s hit list who do not deserve to be there…[Deleted by moderator]. The cowards in HLT just do not stand up to her. Why is it that NONE of okoruwa’s school improvement team have EVER run an outstanding school?? What kind of sick, flawed recruitment process is being used to get people of such consistently low calibre.
Greg Wallace has been improving the life chances of children in Hackney for over ten years. What HLT are doing is despicable. Greg Wallace has dramatically improved schools that they failed to turn round time and time again. I have personal experience of working with HLT and know that they are vastly corrupt in all that they do. My own school, which is outside the federation, has been significantly improved by training we received from Greg Wallace at Woodberry Down. I would be happy to sign any petition that would help see this outstanding Head back at school – where he so rightfully belongs.
The attack on Mr Wallace is an attack on the children. This is because if the BSF had become academies then the Hackney Learning Trust would have lost HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS of pounds. This money would have been used to directly improve the BSF schools but HLT are just interested in protecting their own lucrative and pointless positions. There is no need for most of the staff employed at HLT. It is a club that exists to justify existence. The core strategy they use is to pick on different head teachers in a kind of rolling programme of attack. This then makes people think they are needed as an organisation. I agree that the time has come to CLOSE THE TRUST!
It speaks volumes that parents have hand delivered the petition to the department for education. I believe the DfE will listen to parental opinion. If not, Wallace should open a chain of free schools in hackney and watch the HLT schools empty and close.
The above article states that “some” of the teachers at the BS Federation signed the petition. This is untrue: many, many staff signed it, both rapidly and gladly. I can say first hand that the IT service provided by HLT is simply not fit for purpose. The quality of service provided by C2 Technology was, by contrast, second to none. Tara Byrne is one voice among many. If the Department for Education listened to these more, they would soon realise that the reinstatement of Greg Wallace, the Governing Body and C2 Technology is in the best interests of everyone. Above all, it is in the best interests of the children in each of the five schools. Bring him back – now.
Honks is right. We need all schools to leave the control of HLT if we are to secure a future in hackney that is fair.
There are too many stories about the incompetent antics of HLT staff for them all to be untrue. Many advisers have left in the last year to be replaced by inferior staff… [Deleted by moderator]…
The ten commandments which … [Deleted by moderator].. slack-jawed troglodytes live by:
1. Shop at Primark for it is a place of fine wool and silken clothing.
2. Drool from the corner of your mouth whenever the dark master (chocolate) is present.
3. Seethe with righteous fury whenever any school wishes to become an academy.
4. Seek vengeance upon any individual who dares to deviate from the straight path (as laid out in the vague and incoherent references to a ‘family of schools’).
5. Thou shalt not consider the interests of children before thine own interests.
6. Thou shalt bear false witness.
7. Thou shalt take the Lord’s name in vain every time a headteacher suggests academy conversion.
8. On the holy day thou shalt congegate with thine own kind and drink the blood of thy brothers and sisters.
9. Thou shalt pillory any individual whose sexual preference is not concurrent with the guidelines as laid out in the Hackney policy, ‘Sexual preference and what we are comfortable with: a sixth century guide’.
10. Thou shalt be driven out of Hackney Learning Trust if thou seeks to live by any commandments except these.
I agree with Rhys. And more would have signed if HLT had not stepped in to ban free speech.
I can agree with others comments on the IT services supplied by HLT. Rung them up the other day to inform them of 4 computers that were down and was told to get the caretaker to look at them!!!!
If there is any justice for the children of hackney Greg Wallace will be reinstated and the federation converted to academy ASAP!
The whole of the Learning Trust should be investigated!
Bring Greg Back!!!
[Deleted by moderator]… Rather than corrupting results, Greg Wallace is fully committed to providing the very best teaching for children in Hackney (and all the other schools he has supported in and outside of London) so that they can become independent and lifelong learners. I fully support Greg Wallace and cannot wait for his return to school. HLT and their …[Deleted by moderator].. practice, procedures and workforce should be subject to intense scrutiny and investigation for the way in which they have treated this dedicated professional.
Greg Wallace and C2 Technology need to be reinstated ASAP. It is a scandal that this complete farce has even occurred let alone been allowed to continue. Greg Wallace has improved the life chances of thousands of children in Hackney by transforming the provision of education in all 5 schools, schools which were failing or ‘requiring improvement’ prior to his involvement. No wonder HLT demanded the petitions were taken away from staff rooms of Federation schools. The fear of overwhelming support for Greg Wallace from parents, staff and ex-pupils must have made HLT delirious.
Does HLT stand for Homophobic Lazy Technophobes?
In some cases, it has taken days to get HLT ICT support in to look at problems. In some other cases, the problems have not been fixed. They do, however, know how to use Google. It seems it is a preferred method to finding solutions to ICT problems.
BRING BACK C2 TECHNOLOGY. BRING BACK GREG WALLACE.
Hackney IT has always been a joke. Remember Whitmore before the fed came….
I’m amazed that hackney have done nothing about the homophobic stuff online in the summer… if it was racist stuff surely they would have acted??? Maybe not as it goes… what is the point of hackney learning trust???
Someone needs to intervene before this gets really messy. Greg has been very quiet. He must have a few stories to tell.
Hope he does a tv expose!!
End this mockery.
The day Greg Wallace and the day the IT company are back running the federation will be the start of the demise of the HLT. How can they possibly carry on after the BEST START kicked there ass!!!!! Justice will be done and Greg will be back at the helm where he belongs
Okoruwa …[Deleted by moderator]… never ran an outstanding school. The fed has three and two very close.
If this man leaves then children will be the ones to suffer.My son used to go to one fo the schools before he took over and i can tell you that it was appaling. i moved my son but if i had known that he was going to become head i would have left my son there, whenever i visit the school now it is much better and friends tell me that it has changed for the better.
My son goes to one of the schools in the federation. Before it federated the education he was receiving was inadequate. The school was not safe and he was unhappy. I was in the process of moving him to another school. If you are a parent and have ever tried to do this with HLT you will know that this is another drawn out procedure.
Thankfully Greg Wallace over night became, the principal. We have never looked back. My child is happy, making very good progress and loves school. As a parent I could not ask for more. Until I learn that he is suspended! I don’t want to go back to the dark days. I won’t. Reinstate Greg Wallace, now!!!
Which member of HLT, when he or she was a Headteacher, had these comments in his or HER report?
[1] Attendance is poor and too many pupils arrive late for school. THIS MEANS IT WAS INADEQUATE.
[2] Standards at the end of Year 2 are well below average in reading, writing, science and mathematics. THIS MEANS IT WAS INADEQUATE.
[3] You need to develop pupils’ phonic skills systematically so their standards of reading are higher by the end of Year 2. THIS MEANS IT WAS INADEQUATE.
[4] You need to have higher expectations of younger pupils’ standards of writing and give them more opportunities to write fully. THIS MEANS IT WAS INADEQUATE.
[5] Assessment is satisfactory overall. THIS MEANS IT REQUIRED IMPROVEMENT
Where is this Headteacher now?
If someone of this calibre has been promoted to a senior post without learning HOW to teach in the Foundation Stage or Key Stage 1… surely this is a national outrage. Surely people in the most senior LA posts should have some core knowledge, particularly they should know how to teach children to read.
Dear 32 aka LOW STANDARDS,
NOT IN HACKNEY!
HONESTLY – none of the people in Okoruwa’s School Improvement Team have led outstanding schools… They really have no idea at all. This is the travesty that the Hackney HR HLT dept should be held to account for. Why do they persistently employ under-qualified people? Or is this more about who you know than what you DON’T know?
GILL BRADY has never led an outstanding school.
MARTIN BUCK has never led an outstanding school.
HILARY RYAN has never led an outstanding school.
MANJIT DULAY has never led an outstanding school.
Is there a little pattern here?
My children attend one of the Best Start Schools and I am proud to say I signed the parent petition which demands that Greg Wallace be reinstated immediately.
He has given my children a passion for learning. They enter school every day enthusiastic and cannot wait to inform me of all they have learnt.
I will continue to sign any petition put forward until Greg Wallace is back in his rightfull position!!
I too signed the parent petition and have also considered changing my children’s school if Mr Wallace is not reinstated. I will also encourage others to do the same.
I will not stand by and watch The Learning Trust deprive my children of a decent education AGAIN!!!
I think it is scandalous that HLT have not been investigated based on the comments that have been posted across the blogs on the Hackney Citizen over the last few months. There are people out there reading this, knowing how much injustice there has been all around this matter- and they read and look away, not wanting to step in and finally put an end to the corruption. I urge the BBC to investigate HLT as part of a Panorama programme, Channel 4 on Dispatches? HLT need exposing.
Greg must be brought back as a matter of urgency. His continual drive and determination for the very best for the children of Hackney is second to none and justice must prevail.
Very glad to see our petition has got some publicity. Now everyone can see that the parents have turned there backs on the HLT in FULL support of Mr Wallace.
Many of us have been unfortunate in sending our children to a school run by HLT. However, since the federation took over my children’s school I can honestly say he saved my children from an ongoing circle of inadequate teaching.
Bring him back!!!!
As a parent I signed this petition as I feel without Mr Wallace running the school my children’s education is at great risk.
I am one of the lucky ones who’s children have only ever attended a Best Start school. I have heard stories from friends about theirs children’s school and the type of education they receive within Hackney. But always been proud to stand up and talk about the Best Start and Mr Wallace.
Without him my children would be following the suit of so many other children in Hackney which is below average expectations.
Reinstate Mr Wallace!
In the article, it says ‘some teachers’ signed the petition. That’s very telling. I bet they were brow beaten into doing so.
Gove is far to clever to have anything to do with Mr Wallace again. He is out in the cold where he belongs. I can’t believe any parent who knew the truth about him … [Deleted by moderator].. would support him either.
In schools, children are taught that they have a voice, which is good. This will equip them to join society ready to contribute, be heard and be able to listen to others. They pay lip service to this idea within the federation. However, in the kind of society Mr Wallace would have your children join, they would be forced to live in fear, do what they are told, have no say in any decision making, be paid the bare minimum and have no job security. This, seems to me, to be glaringly ironic.
In response to comment 39
A world were our children would be paid the bare minimum and have no job security would be a result of education supplied to them by the Hackney Learning Trust.
The parents support him because they have seen first hand the difference his vision has made to their education and life chances.
You speak about nepotism but Many members of the HLT have family and close friends working alongside them, I am very sure that these job positions were handed out in the basis of ‘it’s WHO you know and NOT what you know’.
Fact is Greg Wallace did something HLT could not. Which is turn failing schools into outstanding ones. Where will these schools be if they succeed in their witch hunt!
@Danielle…
I totally agree with you, in that the HLT seem to be …[Deleted by moderator]… totally useless. That doesn’t vindicate Mr Wallace. Let’s not forget they created the monster; by allowing him to take charge of so many schools. They, and Mr Wallace should go.
Emma obviously is not a parent!
I heard Mr Wallace was given schools to run as no one else was capable!!! I don’t believe there is any factual information to say that Mr Wallace has done anything wrong. We have to remember the media does not print facts, only stories so I do not think we should be so naive.
I know my child was happy, learning and safe under his leadership. Without reinstatement I fear this will change!
HLT must be closed down or there must be a total clean out of thw staff who are so used to corruption. I believe ofsted should hold an investigation.
Thanks to Tara for putting the petition in! She and the parents of the federation clearly know the dire consequences if Mr Wallace isn’t reinstated. That their children and the children of the future in Hackney are looking at the prospect of failing schools.
Is this what we want for our children. Don’t forget what Mr Wallace and his staff have achieved with hard work, commitment and passion.
All HLT are doing is trying to control and govern the federation now and leave it in ruins as well as ripping the schools off with extortionate IT bills. Something that they are not very good at, to say the least, it seems. Apparently C2 Technology put in a quote for new IT equipment at around £3000 and the school have been charged £20000. Outrageous!! HLT dont want the federation to become an Academy because of the vast amount of money they will lose. You should be ashamed of yourselves HLT. The federation is there for the children and the children only. Without Mr Wallace leading the federation, it is doomed. Tara …. Keep going girl! make sure the Hackney kids get the education they rightly deserve.
Without Mr Wallace leading the federation I predict failure on the horizon.
His track record is amazing and his vision is clear.
It amazes me how the the HLT have managed to continue this preposterous ‘investigation’ when it is themselves who should be investigated.
What schools have they managed to turn around?
What children’s education have they improved?
The outcome should be simple and rapid, Reinstate Mr Wallace and investigate the HLT!!!
Guys at the schools calm down! You do not get treated unfairly by the hackney learning trust IT team, they treat other departments in the trust just as badly. They are awful. We were not able to access our files for four days a few months ago! Four days! Not even an apology.
Emma, I am a parent of a child who attends one of Mr Wallace’s schools. My son was receiving a thoroughly inadequate education two years ago. He was clearly struggling in maths and this was something that was not being addressed by his class teacher. I arranged a meeting with the Headteacher at the time to articulate my concerns and to seek advice on how to help him at home – her response was to find some maths games on the internet he could play. Moreover, behaviour at the school was appalling (my son often reported fights breaking out in corridors and during lessons) and parental voice/involvement was non-existent. From the day that Mr Wallace took over the school, everything changed for the better. A points system for the children was introduced and behaviour rapidly improved, I was contacted by the Head of School who informed me that my son would be placed in an intervention group for maths and parent workshops and coffee mornings were frequently conducted for all subjects so that parents could support their children at home. My son now loves school, is working at age expected level for maths and is taught by lovely teachers who clearly work so hard to provide the children with the very best education. I would sign his petition a million times over; as a parent, I am outraged that such a hardworking and professional Headteacher could be treated so unjustly. The parents at my school will do everything that we can to support him – the staff, parents and children need him.
Emma, you don’t know what you’re talking about. You quote the fact that “some” teachers signed the petition as if it is fact, rather than just the words the journalist has chosen to use. And then imply that teachers were forced to do so.
At the Federation school I work in no one was asked and certainly not forced to sign. We did so because we love working for Greg and we see the difference he makes day in day out to the lives of the children of Hackney. The school is not the same without Greg and the HLT are putting their own interests before those of the children. ICT no longer works properly and nothing gets fixed. Shameful.
Hackney’s elected mayor should be very worried. 600 signatures is one thing and there would have been more if Okoruwa had not stopped democracy.
But he is ultimately accountable. These are some of the most challenging schools in the borough. That’s why they failed. He is sitting on a time bomb of HLT corruption and future failing schools.
@emma you do not have a clue what you are talking about! Are you jealous that your child does not go to one or mr wallaces schools???? I am the one that started the petition up and handed it in to the department of education because mr Wallace is a great teacher and is missed in all 5 of the school!!! Bottom line is we want mr Wallace back!!!
Go Tara!!!
Perhaps a petition should be started to remove Tricia and her cronies out for good. A vote of no confidence. I do not understand why they have not been suspended pending an investigation.
Why is the Councillor Rita Krishna so silent?
Wait- is the investigation complete? Why would you all want him back and he is not yet cleared of any wrongdoings.
Emma has hit the nail on the head.
THE INVESTIGATION IS A FARCE AND IT IS FINISHED… SO THEY ARE TRYING MORE DIRTY TRICKS
As a parent I do admire what Greg did for the schools, but I still want my children to grow up as good honest human beings. I am a little fearful that there is more to this than we know.
Ask senior staff in your child’s school if Wallace is honest or not. If he is corrupt, so are they?
LOOK AT THE FACTS – the governors are backing him. They must know something.
LOOK AT MORE FACTS – your children are dollar signs to Tricia Okoruwa – nothing else.
She is determined to throw her weight around to protect her lavish salary and benefits. There are many more overpaid officials under Okoruwa’s command who are fighting to save their jobs. They are fighting using the only tricks they know: dirty tricks.
If as Mockery says” the investigation is a farce” why are you all so worried?
We are not WORRIED!! WE ARE SICK OF HLT S SICK CAMPAIGNS
Any of the other Hackney Heads see the INTERNAL advert for the Assistant DIREctor of Education???
Who will get that I wonder…mmm… so many to choose from…. Greg?? Not tonight dear….
I can see a face forming….
SURPRISE!!
SIAN DAVIES
Do you need a degree for this job? Is that why Brady is not in the frame?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hlVBg7_08n0
Okorwa and her cyphers should me forced to watch this and then consider their own values. They should then be walked out HLT for ever.
In response to comment 56
Until the lies appeared in the press did you have these concerns? HLT are to to manipulate you with their wrong doing..
HLT are a joke. My children deserve the best aeducation and I feel that living in hackney Mr Wallace is there only hope if this.
Why don’t you try sending your child to a school that is not in the federation. I doubt your concerns will be if your child grows up being an honest human being. Try adding can my child read? Can my child do simple mathematics? Will my child’s live chances improve? The list goes on.
My son is at one of the schools that Greg Wallace is executive principal. He was also there before Greg. It was no way in the league that it is now. There were poor SATS results as well as major behaviour issues. They didn’t have the access to the world of IT. It is a disgrace that Greg and C2 Technology are being labelled. If it weren’t for them, these schools would be in deep despair by now. To stop this happening we must see Greg Wallace and C2 technology back in all of the schools. I am not the only parent who feels this way. There were also parents who attended the recent protest at one of the schools. Hundreds have signed petitions and will continue to do so until they are rightly back where they belong. Justice! Innocence! Bring them back!!!!!!!!!!
Constant support for an outstanding leader!!!
Bring back Greg and C2 technology!!!
Do Hackney Learning Trust have any relevant procedures for dealing with discrimination? Their website is so hard to use.
And make HLT watch this
Thanks to Stop discrimation for sharing that beautiful video. Both sides need to watch.
Bring back Greg Wallace and C2 , without these the schools are now failing. Greg has been replaced with teachers not qualified to do his job? This I find very worrying as my children attend WDCPS and since Greg has been gone I have noticed the deteriation in education at the school and if this continues I will have to look for another school for my children.BRING BACK GREG. He is our childrens future!
The problem all the schools have is they have replaced GW with someone called Gill Brady. Ask to meet her!!! You will see…
How long will the HLT vendetta continue???
Someone needs to put an end to there corruption and ASAP.
Or we risk losing an incredible leader and more to come who even dare think about converting their school into an academy.
Justice for Greg!!
Go Tara, more parents should be like you, with your fight and determination im sure Greg will be back soonx If not maybe you should put in for his job you would be better then who is running WDCPS at the moment.It’s a shame after all the hard work that was put into getting the school to where it is, Just to watch it all fall apart again.BRING BACK GREG OR BRING IN TARA…………
BRING BACK GREG BRING BACK GREG BRING BACK GREG BRING BACK GREG.
As a parent whose children attend one of the Best Start schools, I am very fearful about what is in store for my children’s education.
I have always been very impressed with what the federation does and how they have managed to give my children an education that I feel would not have been possible in Hackney without Mr Wallace!
Bring him back and in doing so save our children’s future.
KEEP FIGHTING. HLT CANNOT WIN. DON’T LET THEM TRAMPLE ON FREE SPEECH AND OUR RIGHT TO PROTEST. NEXT PROTEST IS NEXT WEEK. STAY STRONG AND FIGHT. HACKNEY ONLY WANT MONEY. DON’T GIVE IN. THE MONEY BELONGS TO THE SCHOOLS.
LOOK HOW BAD THE IT SUPPORT IS AFTER A FEW WEEKS. WE CANNOT LET THIS CONTINUE.
FIGHT FOR THE FED. FIGHT FOR EQUALITY. FIGHT FOR GREG WALLACE.
The thread of comments to this article is very much comments praising Greg Wallace’s outstanding leadership.
Funny how someone has been reporting the comments and they have now been deleted by the moderator.
Does the truth hurt Tricia? Gill Brady? HLT overall?
Get use to it! as many will not stop until Greg is back in his rightful position and inadequate professionals such as yourselves are as far away as possible from our children’s education
If he’s so great and hasn’t done anything wrong, what are you all so worried about?
I met him once and I was not impressed. He seemed unable to listen only able to pass judgement. I can see why his management style has failed.
Corruption should be rooted out no matter who is involved. The Learning Trust, The Federation, whoever.
You would have to be very stupid, or incredibly naive to think that giving your partner a lucrative contract would not eventually land you in deep water.
Also, hearing him make a fool of himself on radio 4 talking about phonics didn’t instill much faith in his ability to run a school or anything else. Check it out.
It’s amazing how many of these so-called super heads have been caught out because of their chilling and blinkered arrogance; believing themselves to be above the law.
From what I’ve read and heard the schools will be better off without him.
In response to Frank
Who said the contract was lucrative??
You clearly haven’t been in any of the schools recently to comment that they would be better off without him.
Also in response to his management style which has been judged by many including OFSTED and HLT as outstanding.
Well said Frank. He did not sound like a “super head”
How sweet that FRANK and Mike get on!!!
greg Wallace has brought u together!!!
Nice!!
GILLIAN BRADY CAN MARRY MIKE AND PHONIC FRANK!
What did he say on rad 4 that upset u franky?
Just stop and take a look at how childish you all are. Mockery is always shouting. 80 and 81 are just like children. Grow up and try to unite this community for the love of our children.
I agree with 83 that we must remain united. We cannot let them destroy the Federation as this seems to be what the intention is. We are fighting low calibre people, people that hide in HLT, spending hours masking their incompetence. People that have no morals or principles other than endless greed to protect themselves.The Best Start Federation is something very special nobody should forget that. One day the truth will be told and we will stand taller than ever.
Greg is the best thing to happen to Hackney!!!HLT personify the word inadequate. I would love to se Gill or Tricia model a lesson. They can’t even talk the talk let alone walk the walk!
Greg Wallace is an outstanding teacher, an exceptional leader and an inspiration to so many children and teachers in Hackney and England. His marking policy has improved schools across the country and the CPD he personally provides for teaching and learning is current, relevant and informative. I stopped attending courses run by HLT when I worked in other Hackney schools (both as a teacher and member of SLT) because they were ridiculous. So called advisors had not prepared PowerPoint presentations and could not articulate what their CPD would look like in the context of the classroom. I recently attended CPD that Tricia spoke at– her inability to answer any questions about leading teaching and learning in mathematics was excruciatingly embarrassing – I would suggest that she attends the next NQT training event but then that would probably only confuse her more due to the calibre of the trainers. Comment 85 is particularly interesting – so called ‘leaders’ at the Learning Trust would not be able to model even a satisfactory lesson for members of staff at any Hackney school. Despite providing outstanding leadership in five of the most challenging schools in Hackney, Greg still finds time to go into classes and model what an outstanding lesson looks like. It is only since joining the federation that I have personally experienced working in a school that is led by an outstanding leadership. Like so many other teachers and parents in Hackney, I have no respect for HLT precisely because they do nothing to help schools in the borough. Every school that is part of the federation had ‘intervention’ from HLT and every ‘intervention’ failed because it was being operated by an individual who: [a] had been out of the classroom for so long [b] was devoid of all subject knowledge in the area they were leading in [c] was an absolute moron [d] was without appropriate qualification i.e. a degree. Greg Wallace succeeded where HLT failed and turned round all five schools in the federation within a significant amount of time. We now need to work together save our schools from the corruption and idiotism of HLT and bring Greg back!
Well said SeycanL!!!
HLT are joke,Greg did what NONE of them could which was improve schools which they were failing!!
What schools have HLT turned around? NONE
What children’s education have they improved? None
What have HLT actually done for the borough of Hackney? NOTHING
I suggest HLT had in their resignations before an investigation is launched on themselves and they are given their marching orders. I hear McDonald’s is hiring, But you need a degree for that as well SORRY BRADY!
Can we focus on the good we still have at our schools. My child attends nursery and has such a wonderful, young and delightful teacher. I often speak with other parents who feel the same. My child can’t wait to get there every morning. His teacher is calm, loving and an excellent teacher. Any concerns I had were put to rest by just talking with him. When the time is right Greg will return , but until then please support the good staff we still have.
We’ve set up a website to manage the campaign to SAVE BEST START.
http://justice99.wix.com/bsfjustice
Are you sure Greg Wallace wants to come back, he might just accept a compromise agreement. I am not saying that he is guilty but it is all politics and I cannot see them allowing Greg Wallace to come back despite all the support he has unless Tricia and co go. It’s got to be one or the other.
By the way does anyone know why the primary school on Queensbridge road is being forced into a federation, is it to promote one of Tricia mates again?
http://justice99.wix.com/bsfjustice
Sarah Bailey is one of Tricia’s mates – you are correct. Bailey has a LARGE picture of herself on the front of her Queensbridge site!! It is really odd…
I hope this will be ended soon. Next week is time to make our views known to a wider audience. We must protect the staff from HLT
I think KB is correct in saying “Greg may not want to return” 89 is so right – we need to protect the staff we have. The teachers my children have are excellent and like 89 my daughter attends nursery . Her teacher is such a gem- he is such a culturally knowledgeable teacher – I want to really focus on keeping theses teachers. It has to end soon.
Great site guys!! Bring on next week!!!
http://justice99.wix.com/bsfjustice
Anyone know if there is any truth in rumor Greg is not coming back?
I woud not be surprised. So much as happened in the past 2 months.
Greg will be back.
In time, it will be others that need to leave Hackney.
Greg has too much support. Whatever has gone on, it seems to have been handled very poorly by the Hackney Learning Trust and there will be a heavy price to pay.
BRING HIM BACK
I hope you are right 98. I have mixed feelings. Tricia and company are not going anywhere and that means Greg won’t want to come back. Can’t say I blame him.
He will be back. When they convert to be an academy chain Greg and co will never need to see the HLT again.
Oh happy day!
All senior HLT must be removed.
Interesting requests here https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/user/greg_wallace
– could be an imposter of course. Not sure how easy it is to do.
How can the HLT justify the cost of these overseas jaunts… Why are there so many of them…
Not dissimilar to a jaunt Greg and Tony took to Istanbul…or the the one to Canada with teachers from STA and Woodberry Downs…
The kettle calling the pot black.
Greg and Tony went to Istanbul for a holiday!! They paid for it with their own money!! Greg then wrote an excellent scheme of work. You people are vicious and uninformed – and jealous.
Best of luck to us with the protest for next week!!! Fight them – peacefully.
x
WOW so many people on here are joining the witch hunt on Greg Wallace!! What is wrong with you all?? If you don’t know him then don’t pass judgement on him as he is he a great man and an even better head! Woodberry down will be holding a silent protest on Monday the 30th of September in support of Greg Wallace.
If you ain’t got nothing nice to say about this then keep it to yourself!!!
Tara- I dont understand why you think it’s ok for you and supporters to just have an opinion. It’s all playing out in public anyway. Shame but true.
110- I never said that me and follow supports are only aloud an opinion!!! Just saying if you don’t have nothing nice to say don’t say it on here get your own blog going if needs be cos most people on this blog are supporting Greg Wallace!!
Tara – I understand what you mean, but please no more blogs, especially beating someone when they are down. This has to stop. We are tired of this and the light that’s shining on this is so negative – one says this ,next says that and so it goes on. Someone on this blog was in awe of their children’s teachers. I am one of these. Respect and admiration for my child’s 2nd Grade teacher. My support has to lie with my children’s teachers.
Brilliant protest at Woodberry Down today!
Justice for the BSF!!!
http://justice99.wix.com/bsfjustice#!30th-september-protest/c17q2
This isn’t a blog, it’s a comment section. People are entitled to their opinions.
My opinion is that the the ‘Best Start’ Federation and its supporters are like a cult. One where you follow a leader blindly without thinking for yourselves. One where you are told what to do and never question. One where if you are are different, imaginative or adventurous you are persecuted and bullied.
If you allow a cult to flourish its leader will become so deluded that he/she believes themselves to be infallible (my methods are 100% successful!) above the law (no example needed) and often paranoid (don’t trust anyone, attempt to shut down communication/discussion/humour/fun)
Sound familiar?
You write off the whole Fed – what have you ever achieved??? FF, if ‘don’t trust anyone’ means the Fed does not trust HLT and Trisha … [Deleted by moderator]… YOU ARE RIGHT…. These people have caused havoc in Hackney schools.
… [Deleted by moderator]…
Your rhetoric sounds like it could be Big G herself!
My concern is that if Greg does not return who will lead the schools? Who will govern the BS? Greg promoted young Teachers to the position of Head of School in 4 of the schools and they do not have the qualifications to run a school without his backing so what will happen if he doesn’t return? I hope the HLT have thought about this
Isn’t the Queensbridge Head looking to expand her empire? … [Deleted by moderator]
in response to 93 Queensbridge, the word narcissist comes to mind. See her latest pic in Hackney Gazette?
Narcissism is a term that originated with Narcissus in Greek mythology who fell in love with his own image reflected in a pool of water.
Is 118 seriously suggesting that Ms Okoruwa’s mate, Sarah Bailey, has any reason to ‘fall in love’ with her image???
Readers can decide…
http://www.hackneygazette.co.uk/news/queensbridge_ranked_in_country_s_top_105_performing_schools_1_2829221
Dear 117,
You correctly state:
‘Isn’t the Queensbridge Head looking to expand her empire? … [Deleted by moderator].
BUT Sarah Bailey has been deemed too inexperienced for the role herself due to a fall in results in 2013.
This year it was proved that Okoruwa’s choice of Bailey was fatal – results FELL – and Bailey’s schools achieved 76.5% level 4+….
Time for Bailey to to refocus???
It could be time for the Head of Queenbridge to go!!! Okoruwa has got it wrong again!!!!!!!
Thanks to 118!!! Truly vile pic!!!
As a parent I wished this would soon end. It’s getting way too personal on here. What does it matter how someone looks like in a picture? BSF are taking this a little too far in many parents opinion. We still have some wonderful staff at our schools. They seldom get a mention. Remember having a good leader is useless with a good team.
Correction – without a good team.
123
Most the team want the leader. That’s why we are protesting. We want to continue our great work and leave Hackney Council
See the You Tube video we made with audio of the protests:
http://www.savebeststart.org.uk
Looks like Greg is Marmite
I feel for him give him his job back or Let him go
it is like pulling Teeth
It has gone on for far to long Yes he was wrong was it Greed ?
just sort it out one way or another
Thank you , thank you 127. You are so right “give him back his job OR let him go”
127 has spoken. Yes, time to move on.Not what many of us wanted, but have lost the will to fight this any longer.
Well said 127. Knowing Greg he would want his staff to be in the classroom with those children he so cared about and not keeping this fight going. It’s making the schools look so bad.
If Greg Wallace resigns then there is a real risk that in two years time the schools will be back in the same mess they were in before the federation became along. I’ve heard stories of staff looking for other jobs. They may not all go now but there is bound to be some people who decide that this is time for a change. They should never have done this to him. The Governors are backing him 100% and they know what is going on.
131- this is exactly what I am afraid of- staff will start to leave. I have been very vocal for a group of Mums in praising our Nursery teacher. I just don’t know what we will do if he leaves. We just can’t let this happen.
I have worked for Greg for a few years now. I worked at one of the schools he took over long before he came. Boy, when he arrived, he arrived. He turned the school around for the better. I remember when TA’s had to sit at the back of the class. It was awful! You did no such thing when Greg came along. He was and still is an inspiration. I used to enjoy my job, but since Greg came along and inspired me I now love my job. He bought so much to the school for the children. I never thought this possible. So why are the Learning Trust condemning this man? He was brought in to turn 5 schools around. HE DID THIS!!!!! Now he has done all the hard work, the HLT want to get rid of him. How dare they deprive any child of a top class education because this is what he does. He provides the very best head teachers, deputies, teachers, support staff and admin to provide the very best they can to each and every child in every one of the schools that he is Executive principal. We can only hope and pray that Greg returns to where he belongs sooner rather than later. These children will probably not get the education they deserve if he does not come back. The reason? His employees are loyal and believe in him! They trust him wholeheartedly! Lots of people will leave and this will have a major effect to the lives of the current and next generation. He needs the support of every employee, parent and carer. BRING BACK GREG WALLACE! NOW!
I think that one thing some parents will not realise is how much distrust staff feel towards Hackney and some of the education officials they have. As 133 says, they have failed the schools when they were in charge and they brought Mr Wallace and the BSF into clear up their mess. Years of neglect. Whitmore and Burbage were on the government list of the worst 200 schools in the whole country – even after Tricia Okorwa – who is director of education at HLT – was the Headteacher at Burbage!!!!!
Mr Wallace might have made some mistakes – but he did not do anything wrong on purpose. He has ony eve tried to get things to be better. The way he is being treated makes us all feel vulnerable and we are wondering who they will come for next.
Nobody wants to work like this… someone went of ill today because of it….
The atmosphere of fear is exactly what HLT wanted…
Great letter in the Hackney Gazette today from a parent. Mr W needs to be brought back asap before this really gets out of hand in terms of others leaving. He is a very good boss and he is very, very experienced.
I think a petition should be started to remove Tricia Okurwa …[Deleted by moderator]…. Gill Brady is another one that doesn’t know anything about schools. As for Hilary Ryan. Read her Ofsted report – how can a head like that offer advice to headteachers in the most diverse borough in the country. If I were a head and she came into my school I would give her short shrift. Why doesn’t someone DO SOMETHING and get rid of these awful negative people.
Great letter in the Hackney Gazette yesterday from a Woodberry Down parent.
You can read it here:
http://www.savebeststart.org.uk/#!letter-031013/c22oy
Great letter and this is why I am asking you parents to continue with your support. We deserve a good leader. I spoke today to a parent who was so happy with her daughters teacher- can I remind you who put them there- Greg of course.
John- we need more parents like you writing in support of our schools. However must point out ,we too at Mandeville have some very happy children attending school. My daughter is like yours when it comes to weekends. Now that says a lot for her teacher. What a great start some of our children have had to school life. We need mr Wallace back so as we can continue like this.
@Gutted (133) you speak of Greg’s loyal employees but are you aware that only 162 of them signed the petition to re-instate him? That’s only 2/5ths of the Federation Workforce?! The snub speaks volumes if you ask me and it’s high time everyone took note that the majority do not want him back. Also only 385 parents signed the petition that’s what 1/5th of parents across the Federation?!? These are facts as stated on the save BS website
The HLT banned the petitions and one was stolen…
Nobody is asking you… or if you are so keen on the numbers why don’t you ask your mate Tricia Okoruwa to let the petitions continue, It was her and Olly Cochrane and Gill Brady that banned them.
Why are the BSF staff being made to listen to Brady when she has so many obvious issues and NO DEGREE!
The scandal is on your side, it seems.
@Education4BSF as I understand it the petitions were running for a good couple of weeks before they were banned?! Plenty of time to gather the troops I’d say! I wonder was the stolen petition the one from Whitmore where I believe nobody from the support staff signed it?!? You’re right no-one asked me…. Just saying…… Freedom of speech n all that!!
@141
I am confused where you got your information from ‘running for a good couple of weeks’??? the petition was in the schools for less than a week before they were ordered to be removed.
So in reality over 500+ signatures in less than week speaks volumes.
And your right about ‘freedom of speech’ so why is it if you have something negative to add to the witch hunt of Mr Wallace its highly welcomed by HLT and the press.
However, if you have something positive to say your not allowed to express yourself for example petitions being removed?!?!?!
Number 91 You so obviously don’t know Greg very well the last thing he would do is give into compromise!!!! He is 100% commited to his five schools within the federation he isnt just going to WALK AWAY!!!!! He doesn’t have to fight for his innocence as he isn’t guilty of anything the only thing he IS GUILTY of is he wants the BEST EDUCATION for the children now and the future so if he has to be accused of anything let it be that and I will stand up and point my finger and agree he is GUILTY!!!!! Idiotic ppl writing stupid comments get your facts before you write your garbage!!!!!! FUMING.COM
I am a parent that has seen the before and after Greg. The before was a battle on every front- children’s hated going to school and when they were there they fought a battle just getting throught the day. Academically they did not do well. Now they have excelled in every class. My youngest skips to Nursery every morning and has the privilege of having the same teacher as132. ( even taking on the accent) I so want to have a good leader in our schools to make sure we don’t fall back to the old ways.
I’ve heard that a march on hackney town hall is being planned. Is great idea!!! Let’s get details circulated at school gate next week. We can’t let hackney win!!!!
March on Hackney Town Hall is a great idea. Please circulate widely.
Then Tricia Okoruwa and her mates will find out that they cant bully and intimidate schools and heads.
Just ask the staff at Princess May about what they have endured from that woman. HLT should let heads run their schools without constant pressure and intimidation.
Let’s all turn up for the march – I’ll be there.
Yes more people should join the march. Governing Bodies and Heads are not allowed to run schools in terms of what is best for the children but are imposed by HLT to do what is best for T.O and her cronies. Schools are being pressured into partnerships/federations and Governing Bodies having the wool pulled over their eyes so that friends of Tricia’s become Executive Heads with bigger salaries and even less accountability. These people do not care about the children only their own pockets! Why is Queensbridge primary in a partnership?
Hacked Off – you make some good points, especially about Hilary Ryan, ex Headteacher of a disgraced primary school in the Wirral.
Read this news story… it makes you sick
A WIRRAL MOTHER WAS SHOCKED WHEN SHE FOUND HER LITTLE GIRL HAD BEEN ALLOWED TO LEAVE SCHOOL ALONE – FOR THE SECOND TIME.
Maureen Power, from Wallasey, panicked when she arrived at the school and was told her five-year-old daughter Caitlin had already been collected.
The mum-of-two said: “I turned up to get Kaitlin as usual but was told someone else had come instead.
“I couldn’t understand it because I had not agreed with her dad, Billy, that he was collecting her that day.
“When I realised Billy had not been, I panicked – it was horrible.
“I couldn’t believe that her teachers had told me she had been picked up when clearly she had not.”
The incident, which happened last Thursday, has brought back memories for Maureen of similar events two years ago. She says Kaitlin was able to wander off alone at the age of just three.
“The school have said THEY DON’T KNOW HOW IT HAPPENED but I don’t know if they realise how traumatic those few minutes are – no mother should have to feel like that.”
Park Primary School headteacher HILARY RYAN said the school will work hard(sic) to enforce stricter security procedures in the future.
—————
The Hackney Citizen site and the documentary evidence against Ryan are proof that recruitment procedures within Hackney Learning Trust are of low quality. Her Ofsted report clearly indicates that she did not run equal opportunities or an inclusive school.
It now seems that children in Hilary Ryans school were not even cared for at the most basic of levels…
Let’s get a date sorted and demand that Okoruwa leaves once and for all…
Hackney Learning Trust persistently does no good.
Amen to that. …[Deleted by moderator]… That way at least all children in Hackney will get a chance of a decent education.
How are things going at the schools right now?
Are the individual heads coping?
CLOSE HACKNEY LEARNING TRUST!!!
GET GILL BRADY OUT FOR GOOD. AND HILARY RYAN. WE DON’T NEED THEM.
I agree with 152.
HLT should be shut or there should be a major restructure to ensure that Okoruwa and her cronies leave once and for all. The place is vile and working here is abhorrent. The confusion that seeps through at every level is mindbogglingly maddening. As soon as I can, I will leave. Till then – go for it Best Start Fed – take them ALL THE WAY.
There are too many stories that we have all heard – Martine Buck is best man for Steve Belk, Gill Brady reads the SATS questions for a borderline pupil at one of the Primary Advantage Schools… Hilary Ryan cannot keep children in school nor does she provide equality… there is TOO MUCH for this HLT to be seen as credible by anyone.
They have attacked Wallace because he threatened their tainted ivory towers and he is paying the price for the greed of some over paid and over weight HLT fat cats
If half of this is true, surely Hackney Councillors should do something.
I am the mother of a black child in a Hackney school. Its very worrying that the people advising our schools like Hilary Ryan, do not value black children and diversiy. Not just for the black children but all the children in Hackney. If HO is right HLT should be disbanded.
None of these people value Black and Minority children and neither do they value working class children or diversity. These Executive Heads, Tricia’s cronies only value their huge salaries. That’s why they are eager for schools to partner or federate it gives them even bigger wage packets.
It is true they all need to go.
Why is Rita Krishna so silent on the subject?
Not only do they not value Black or Minority children they also do not value Black heads. Ask Chris Coles, Vijay Bhanaut who they have hounded out and Stephen Spooner, who they have victimised and bullied.
Why is Rita Krishna so silent?
This is very worrying for our children.
We want ALL Hackney children to be valued regardless of the colour of their skin.
A full and thorough audit and investigation need to be carried out into the issues raised on these comment boards. Many allegations have been made about HLT and nobody can have any confidence in Hackney’s education service when claims of greed, corruption, poor quality recruitment (e.g. Gillian Brady’s appointment, Okoruwa’s sons at the Trust, Hilary Ryan and Martin Buck as Belk’s best man)… the list goes on. Rita Krishna shopuld be speaking to Hackney teachers, support staff and Heads to gauge our views on the tyranny which is Hackney Learning Trust.
ACT NOW. THIS WILL NOT GO AWAY.
Parents in this borough should realise that HLT like Hackney Homes are run by little empire builders. Only interested in preserving their own position. Sadly Hackney Councilors are impoptent and wlked over by these little dictators
Greg should be reinstated immediately. He is an outstanding leader who believes in providing world class education for under privileged children. He will not compromise on standards.
I worked for him and learnt how things should be done. Let greg do his job. It is a crime that he currently can’t.
Councillors and DfE should go into Hackney schools and ask heads what they think of the Trust. No one that is employed in schools is willing to say anything publicly because we have seen what happens to anyone who dares to deviate – even slightly – from the party line. The repercussions for us would be bullying and intimidation.
I think Greg was wrong to be involved in the company awarded the IT contract in his schools but HLT knew about this and saved the axe until now.
All of us working in the Trust or Hackney schools should remember Niemöller’s text
First they came for the communists,
and I didn’t speak out because I wasn’t a communist.
Then they came for the socialists,
and I didn’t speak out because I wasn’t a socialist.
Then they came for the trade unionists,
and I didn’t speak out because I wasn’t a trade unionist.
Then they came for me,
and there was no one left to speak for me.
Staff are loyal to Greg because he is only ever loyal to the children. Many people would have signed the petition if it is was not withdrawn/stolen/banned. Whoever heard of a petition being banned? Surely that cannot be legal.
HLT will be in more of a state if Greg is not reinstated. What will happen to those 5 schools that Greg and his team have worked tirelessly to restore to a Good/Outstanding standard? What will happen to the children? They will be back to heating up teacher’s porridge in the staff room during core learning time and 54% level 4s.
Silly me! I am making the foolish assumption that HLT actually care about the education of the children of Hackney. What a schoolboy error!
@139Education4all. Maybe those 162 loyal employees are the ones that have the same vision as Greg Wallace and the rest don’t! Those 162 want the best for every single child within the federation. Loads of parents weren’t aware of what Tricia and her cronies were and still are doing. Maybe now they do know what the future holds for their children without him. Not much if HLT have anything to do with it……
Strange how they all know what’s going on but keep quite when they are getting a piece of the wealth. Then one gets caught with his finger in the pie and then starts crying what the others are doing. The TRUTH is, his partner should never have had the contract, it stinks of a fiddle, a normal person could do a simple audit and expose it for what it is. However, this is Hackney and the rest are covering their tracks. He will more than likely be paid off in the end, with your money, this is the norm is most schools in Hackney, education is the last thing the trust are thinking about.If you want a good education for your children, MOVE.
Hackney learning trust regularly appoints staff to very senior roles when they lack skills and qualifications. These people are then inflicted on the schools our children attend. Gill Brady head of primary has no degree. Martin buck a secondary school support officer has no degree.
Schools would not appoint this pair as teachers yet they are given TOP JOBS with no thought to relevant qualifications.
It is an outrage that needs to be stopped.
The fact is the HR system in HLT is so slack that ANYONE could be working in there.
Tricia Okoruwa has given jobs to both her sons in HLT.
Okoruwa s friends also benefit. The head of primary strategy – alex tate -is ex colleague of Okoruwa. Alex Tate has no skills relevant to such a role.
Okoruwa’s reputation is in tatters and she is personally responsible for bringing our hackney schools into disrepute. I am a parent governor at a hackney primary send our head has told me more stories that I’m scared to write in case our head becomes Okoruwa s next target.
I can say that I heard gill Brady and another of tg speak at hasga the hackney governors association. What a poor performance.
My eldest is at uni now studying for a degree send she then wants to teach. The debts she is mounting up are scary and it is a mockery that she is doing this while senior roles are dished out to unqualified staff like Brady. What kind of role model is she for children to aspire to?
I think that at the very least Brady should be enrolled on an undergraduate programme and show our community she knows she has acted in a dishonorable manner.
Article about the protests in the Hackney Gazette!!
http://www.hackneygazette.co.uk/news/protests_at_so_called_superhead_s_hackney_schools_1_2864631
163 has said it exactly how it is.
If what 165 says is true then all Hackney governors need to stand up – I think most of us will have had similar experiences of HLT. In our school they told us to get rid of the Head and offered as an ‘alternative solution’…. dear god – by a few weeks of the new solution we were worse off. Then another plan… you feel bullied, or should I say felt bullied — for me HLT is past tense.
What makes me write this? The revelation on this site which has been supported by my headteacher – that NOBODY in the senior levels of hlt have ever run an outstanding school.
In many cases… read their reports… the schools were borderline. Hilary Ryan’s school was dreadful by reported facts……….
Children run out of school
No multi-cultural curriculum
We need to fight to get HLT OUT!
I am also a governor of a Hackney PS. I am truly appalled by what is happening in Hackney. I have lost any trust in HLT. My head confirms stories of heads being bullied and intimidated. Why isnt anything done about this? The team at Hackney are not respected by the schools – no one wants them in their schools. Their advice is not welcome and when that advice comes from people like Gill Brady and Hilary Ryan one has to wonder what on earth is going on. time for them all to go!
169 you are correct It is one big bullying party. HTL are indeed making life hard for the heads, but that in turn means heads make life hard for their staff. Nothing has really changed there- under Mr. Wallace was no different. Maybe we should lift that gagging order and let all have their say.
Sadly 170 is right. Same stress – same soul destroying staff at top. Bullying culture was there before HLT took over. You just have to look at the staff turnover.
Just heard at the school gate- Greg is not returning. Anyone know if this is true?
Greg WILL BE BACK. If he is not, many of us will leave too. Hackney cannot get away with this. Join the next protest. Details soon. This is turning in to a long fight – but we will win. WD always do.
Also hearing it from all sides that Greg has had enough. Yes, so many will leave- some we will hate to see go.
174 – please read:
Greg WILL BE BACK.
We want him to run WD and we have 100%+ confidence in our SUPER HEAD…
Greg has spent his life fighting for the best outcomes for the children in the Federation schools, no more so than at WD. His experiences with the Hackney Council have not been good. I know this. I met him in June, by chance on a Saturday night in London…. He said WAIT AND SEE WHAT THEY WILL DO TO ME… THEY WOULD RATHER SACK ME AND PAY THE COST THAN HAVE ME BACK.
I didn’t really believe him… and I regret that… but what is their game??? The current IT support in the school is DIRE and I have heard that it is the same in other schools.
I spent an HOUR of PPA making 2 resource sheets for my class. And then – even after ONE DAY – I still could not print them…
Woodberry Down staff are well fed up with this situation…. it is criminal.
I want Greg back and I want Tony back.
The atmosphere is horrendous as we wait and wait.
And, quite frankly, I think Hackney Council should be investigated by the Department for Education as they seem intent on propelling our school to failure. Jealously of WD is so clear… NONE of the other schools have three consecutive outstanding Ofsteds…
I just hope Greg is OK. I can’t imagine he feels great but he is so much the driver of this car he needs to be here. WE MISS YOU GREG AND WANT YOU BACK!!! xxxx
I don’t know Greg very well, but I respect what has been achieved.
I do know Gillian Brady the so called head of primary.
This woman is a vindictive … and needs to be removed from HLT. There are many reports of the fact this lady is not qualified, does not have a degree etc
One of the reasons for this is she does not have a GCSE equivalent for maths. So she cannot do a relevant degree!!!
What a joke, but it is actually NOT funny…
Her only qualification seems to be in vindictiveness
… I think many Hackney Heads and ex Heads will attest. She is Okoruwas rather large mouthpiece.
Thank goodness this is not true – he will be back. We need him as some heads are just not able to manage without him. When is this investigation over?
I agree . No use to anyone.
Needs to stop playing to Okoruwa s tune.
Would be great to see her gone. Bad appointment. The business about the lack of degree is a scandal. Go to uni gill! We all did!!
GREG WILL NEVER BACK DOWN The federation needs him and the Academy’s need to happen sooner rather than later then the learning trust can do one
176 –
u r so right!!! PEACE!
Greg is GUILTY!
GUILTY of caring!
GUILTY of wanting the best for the children!
GUILTY of ensuring the children get the best start!
GUILTY of being hounded by Tricia and co!
GUILTY of being victimised!
But to me, NOT GUILTY of any wrong doing!
BRING BACK GREG WALLACE! NOW!
Gutted is correct in saying ” bring Greg back” our school is falling apart- staff are leaving and how many weeks are we into the school year??? Our head is not helping matters as she is feeling the stress of no guidance.
Heads in Hackney have no respect for Okoruwa and even less for Brady and Ryan.
When Brady spoke to heads recently we all talked amongst ourselves and ignored what she had to say.
She can threaten all she wants to but we all know she hasn’t even got a degree
Rita Krishna, where are you? Do something about HLT.
So right – bring Greg back and sooner rather than later. Our school is soul destroying. Tension and unhappiness. Staff are leaving and this will continue until we have Greg back. Heads can not cope without him.
HLT a disgrace
Contact Diane Abbott about this
Tel: 020 7219 4330
Email: chalkiasg@parliament.uk
Brady and Okoruwna should be main focus of the demands for public investigation…
WHY OUR ARE CHILDREN BEING LINE MANAGED BY UNQUALIFIED BRADY???
This is ALL SO WRONG. people are really fed up and angry in the schools and there is talk of resignations.
Why are we being told what to do by someone who is unqualified?
How can this be right. Three whiteboard s don’t work and this has been case for over a week. This never used to happen…
HLT are pure poison
Yes, you are correct in saying so many want to leave. It’s a mixed bag – some are fed up with HLT and some with Heads of school. It’s an awful mess .
Okurawa and Brady need to go and go now. They are not good for Hackney children.
OUT OUT OUT
I can’t wait for half term. I am sick of the endless atmosphere of fear that she has created. Now that Okoruwa has appointed her close friend SIAN DAVIES as Deputy Director we can only guess how things will go… it seems nobody can stop Okoruwa’s thirst for power at any cost…
I have a question for Mr Wallace. As a parent of a pupil at Whitmore I can’t understand why the private building development that is going on practically on the grounds of the school was never challenged? My child’s education is suffering because of the impact of the noise all day long not to mention the dust and debris. How can the Head have agreed to or not challenged the planning for this build? It’s like a building site over there and will be like this for a couple of years. I’m angry that you didn’t try to stop this development in its tracks, did you and your management team not think of the impact this might have? I don’t understand how it’s been allowed to go ahead. My Son was at Whitmore when Ms Grice and Mr Howe were managing the school and believe me they would have never let this disruption take place.
192 I too raised concern about that very issue a while back and was told there was nothing they could do about it.
I am one ANGRY parent this morning. My son told me yesterday that their teacher walked out in Mandeville. How can we keep having this happen? This is just not acceptable. I have had contact with this teacher and my son was doing well in his class. We can’t keep blaming the teachers. I am tired of this. We parents have got to start asking questions at who is responsible for such a staff turnover. I am extremely worried as last year we had the same pattern of events. I want the best for my child, but am not getting it.
I have just made a few calls and nobody knows anything- Well we did read that some staff wanted to leave, but this seems strange 1 week before holidays. Keep us updated.
That can not be true?What is going on there? We parents demand an explanation as to why our school seems by far the worst out of all. It’s like a revolving door with staff. I hope this is just another one of those rumors- we will see on Monday.
Staff will leave if Mr Wallace does not come back. Personally I will stay till July for my class but if the learning trust get any worse then I’m calling it a day sooner. The IT support is a joke and you can sense Greg’s absence. Nothing seems focused and some senior staff seem really fed up and stressed.
If parents want staff to stay please tell learning trust to back off and bring Greg back. There are rumours that Okoruwa is trying to split up the Fed. I am not working for another exec head unless it is Greg. The one they brought round a few weeks ago…. no way!!!
I agree. I’m committed to children but at end of day SOMETHING has to change fast. The governors knew about the IT contract, we knew… it has been like it since the federation started.
Why can’t someone see that bringing this up now, 6 years later, is just HLT being desperate to stop us being academies. How many ofsted inspections, finance audits etc has the Fed had since 2008???
What they’ve done is so transparent…. and why is it taking so long. There is no mystery… we all knew and the chair of governors knew…
Stay strong everyone. Sooner or later WE WILL WIN.
AND THEN START PROPER CAMPAIGN TO CLOSE HLT FOR GOOD.
I am so fearful that my child’s teacher will leave at Mandeville. My daughter just adores her teacher and I have said it before- we have to take care of these good and lovely young teachers.
I too am concerned that Gillian Brady is unqualified yet now acting as advisory manager to the schools. This is a disaster waiting to happen. Parents should demand to meet her and let her either show her certificates if she has them or if not request she leaves and a qualified replacement is found.
No point complaining to Hackney. Might be better to route comments to the Department of Education. Write to Michael Gove at : ministers@education.gsi.gov.uk
One solution might be Okoruwa to insist gill Brady undertakes a part time degree via Open University or similar. Please also provide the necessary four days of study leave per week. Kill two birds with one stone!
No,it’s unfortunately true(194). Poor chap was unable to deal with work bullies. The more this woman gets away with harassment, the more she will do it. I watched this all unfold from afar. Stress can seep into the whole of ones life,so support is so important. See these people have degrees and look how they treat their co-workers.197 you are both privileged and fortunate to have a choice of staying- this lovely young teacher didn’t.
End the madness!!! We want him back!!!
Surely Rita Krishna must be voted out after these revelations… shocking
If Krishna wants an ounce of credibility left she should sack Okoruwa then Brady then resign.
203- this happened so many times last year and at same school. Nothing new there.
The fact is it is not just GILL BRADY, HEAD OF PRIMARY, that does not possess suitable qualifications or experience. Her close ally in the secondary team is Mr Martin Buck.
Key facts about Mr M Buck are set out for all to see – and for Buck to respond to…
[1] Martin Buck has no degree
[2] Martin Buck’s school very quickly entered a ‘requires improvement’ category after he left due to low results from when he was in charge
[3] Martin Buck is a close friend of the senior clique at HLT
[4] Martin Buck was so close, he was actually the ‘best man’ at Steve Belk’s wedding
Most of us Hackney Heads are sick to death of being told how to make our schools better by people who have never achieved outstanding ratings themselves… It is a total disgrace that NONE of the people advising your children’s Headteacher have ever actually led a school to an outstanding level… or kept it there…
There is a well-known culture of bullying towards Heads in Hackney from these ciphers. It is time that school staff united and said one thing: we are here, every day, for children. We work hard and we receive no acknowledgement from the ciphers at HLT. We will not tolerate the mediocrity as exemplified by BRADY, BUCK, RYAN, OKORUWA!!!
It is a great shame that Diane Abbot, Meg Hillier and Rita Krishna have sought to ignore the true state of affairs. They should be shamed for this.
I don’t know what Greg Wallace has done or not done. But I question why they gave him all these schools – the largest Federation in Hackney and one of the most successful… What bizarre processes were inplace? Or were the Sunday Times correct to suggest it was because Greg Wallace was leading the schools away from the greed of Hackney’s senior team?
Tricia Okoruwa should be ashamed at what she has created. She is no longer even remotely credible as Director of Education.
We know about Brady and Buck…. How many others are unqualified??? Do you want your child in this environment?
There are too many allegations against HLT for any credible journalist not to investigate. Never mind this comments page – what about all the others?
We need closure – of the Wallace case and of HLT.
A public investigation is required. Krishna – if you have any sense of decency – ACT NOW
Survey Heads in Hackney about HLT… see what you will get
I am doing a Whistleblowing VERY SOON about the absence of SAFE recruitment in some of Okoruwa’s cronies schools…
@193 Are you a Whitmore Parent too? I have spoken with the Developer’s rep on site and was told that the planning was never contested by the School. I believe this too be a true fact because Parents were never told of the plans had we been informed we would have petitioned to ensure that the building work was not allowed to go ahead not only is it a serious safeguarding issue having non vetted workmen working on a site overlooking our children it is like I said very disruptive. I want to know why the management team and governors at Whitmore didn’t try to stop this from happening. I’m sure other schools wouldn’t have allowed this development on their doorstep.
@198 Jane Kemsley Chair of Whitmore stated in the Hackney Citizen that she was not aware of the relationship between Mr Wallace and Mr Zangoura (IT provider) so why are you saying that the Governors knew when clearly only the chair of BS did? When Ms Kemsley was making decisions about finances at Whitmore she didn’t know about this personal relationship, who is to blame for this serious oversight? I’m not a hater of the Federation and I thought Mr Wallace was doing a good job for the kids of Hackney but the more I hear of what Whitmore is really like and how it’s run really bothers me. I think the Teachers are great but the school is far from outstanding and I want my child to receive an all round education not just be force fed English and Maths so that her school reaches it’s targets!! I’m thinking of moving my child to another school where she will be happier.
Why is Rita Krishna so inactive?
All the comments on these various Greg Wallace
Stories indicate wider issues.
For example the allegations around recruitment at HLT. Can it really be a coincidence that TWO of Tricia sons work in there … [Deleted by moderator].
And her mate sian Davies is now deputy director?????
Will sian Davies from primary advantage be allowed to skip school to take her dogs on HOLIDAY……….
THIS IS WHAT SHE HAS DONE B4
Having worked in all the schools across the Federation in the past It amazes me the support Greg is getting on these blogs cos I never met anyone that liked the man till I read these comments. The only people that would write in support of him would be his senior leaders, no-one else cares for him apart from a few die hards at Woodberry Down and that’s the sad truth of it. Stop this witch hunt against HLT and deal with the real matter here please
Who writes is support of HLT? Whatever the issues with Greg Wallace it is clear that Tricia … [Deleted by moderator]…. never acted with a sense of decency, morality or well being for the children. They have only been interests in lining their own pockets.
There is no witch hunt against HLT. Only against those who dare to stand up to Tricia and her cronies.
You are a fake and we know it. If what u say was true about a few of us how do u account for
http://www.savebeststart.org.uk
R we standing therein making slogans because we don’t like Greg?
Wait a while… after half term… u will c.
#214 I’m no fake believe me. You are in the minority and one day you will sadly see this. I hope whatever it is you have planned for after the half term is for the good of the children
212 – that’s how it is. It’s only the senior staff that care. They care for their fine salariy.Look at some of the schools. Young Heads that bring no experience to that position. Might have a degree, but bring nothing but the fear factor to the job. How did they ever get there? They need to go for good.
@216 I agree the leadership team is very young and in-experienced. If they had gone through the regular process of attaining their roles through years of gaining the necessary knowledge and skills to run a school the building site that is Whitmore at the moment would not be happening.
The schools are all judged as OUTSTANDING for leadership and Ofsted say the same.
The schools are being targeted because they wanted better for the children and could nother provide this … [Deleted by moderator].
We need an end now to this mad situation. I’ve heard we will convert soon… I hope so.
@217. You are so right – I don’t even blame those Heads,as they just don’t have the experience to deal with what’s involved in running a successful school. This also includes dealing with the building site you refer to. It’s an absolute disgrace that this was allowed to happen.
I AGREE. We must convert the schools and leave Hackney, Okoruwa and the rest o… [Deleted by moderator]… behind. MPs should be demanding a full investigation into THEM. We know the stories on these blogs:
Okorwuas sons in the Trust and one given a place at Mossborne … [Deleted by moderator].
Brady and Buck NO DEGREES. Ryan unsuitable for multicultural schools. NONE of them ever leading a school to outstanding. ALL of them jumping to Okoruwas commands.
There is much more too that has been alleged, like Brady reads SATS questions for the primary advantage schools. This not a role for a senior official!!
Heads have complained of bullying and have said they do not respect Brady and talk when she speaks. Okoruwa is gunning for loads of good heads from GOOD schools. She makes a list every year and this has been published on here.
Hilary Ryan let children run out of her school on several occassions and claimed not to know they were missing.
We cannot have these people in these posiitons of authority as they may advise the same system to be imposed on us. Hackney do not get references or they would know the detail of these staff.
And Okoruwa’s friends in schools do not follow the relevant guidance on recruitment and do not obtain references. this is a fact that needs full investigation.
I am still very annoyed that our children’s teacher has left. @218 I wonder at what price on our staff this OUTSTANDING was achieved ? I Gill Brady to come in and watch what’s going on. We as a group of parents and we are not going to watch teachers come and go like this. Our school needs new leadership.
221. Nobody has left.
@194 – angry parent
Firstly the member of staff you talk about is not a Teacher in fact a TA. That member of staff did not walk out, in fact relocating countries.
That member of staff has been training the replacement for the last 3weeks to ensure the transition will be as smooth as possible for your child.
No Teacher walked out of MDV on Friday!
Weird?? Where r u getting these facts from???
This mess is spilling into our family life. I have spent this weekend just worrying our teacher will leave or worse still be picked and picked at until breaking point. It’s sad what has happened to our school. Conversion is not going to happen and we are not so sure about it anymore. Read some of the parents concerns and they are about senior staff that were employed by Mr. Wallace.
Which teacher do you refer to that has left?
No teacher has left!!! YET.
Did that annoyed parent not say his child came home with that concern.?I am happy for that parent that it’s not true.
No teacher has left MDV!
Your information is wrong.
@227 thanks for the reassurance….. YET.
I work at MDV and am fully behind my head. She has many years of experience and is constantly praised by the parents for the improvements she has made to their children’s education.
You speak about qualifications well hers is on display in the front office. Since she has been in position SATs results has never been better, all the children are receiving a great education and their interests are being put first.
Do you have to be in your 40s to qualify to be head?!?! NO! As there are many heads who are and have not achieved what she has.
Her leadership and the many of the other schools in the federation have been judged as outstanding by OFSTED, clearly this must say it all.
I am sure the YET stands for if Greg Wallace does not return.
Many will leave if he is not reinstated.
Then you can all comment on how fast the schools will deteriorate.
HLT will not be able to keep the standards up without Greg and these staff.
For those who say only a small amount believe in him 500+ signatures speak differently.
I worked at HLT until recently. Staff come and go at the trust. Unless of course you are a friend or relative, you constantly have to watch your back. Retention is terrible. How we are supposed to support schools under such appalling leadership, is anyone’s guess. The children suffer.
If you don’t get on with ‘her’ your days are numbered. Not even that. You’re just told to go. … [Deleted by moderator]. No one likes her.
I am glad I am now out of there. I can live my life happily again.
@228 You are the voice of reason, I suspect you do not work for Best Start? To those who see fit to imply that if Mr Wallace does not return there will be a mass exodus of Teaching staff, who are you to lay such threats about our children’s future? If Mr Wallace is as you all say all about the children and their education surely he would be horrified to hear that you are planning to leave and cause such upheaval to the future of Hackney’s children?!? Shame on you all
No teachers walked out on Friday from Mandeville School. It seems people are making things up. Does ‘Angry Parent ‘ (comment 194) have a name for the teacher that has allegedly walked out? I work in Mandeville and am not aware of any teachers leaving on Friday. A member of support staff has left. Best Start teachers care about the children and would not put their education in jeopardy by walking out.
@234 no I do not work for BS but I do know a few of the children that attend that school and I am interested in their education. These children are the future. Why in the world would anyone want nothing but the very best for them.
Well that’s a relief to hear our teacher has not gone . Like I said my son came home and announced his teacher was not coming back. Because so many stories have come from school to home in the last few weeks I honestly thought it to be true. Strange as it may seem, but I was not the only parent that believed it to be true. They got the TA and teacher mixed up.
@234 – well said.
Happy days – no major staff upheaval . @234 best comment ever.
@231this is how you support staff. I liked these words of support. You should be a team and not fighting against one another.
&234- please all take a moment to read this and that includes Heads and teachers alike. I am so sick of reading about how many of you are leaving if Mr Wallace does not return. Is it any wonder that parent believed his child’s teacher had indeed left. Shame on you.
@234 has said it for us all. You just have to read this comment board and see how many threats are made towards our children.@237 you have every right to believe your child-. Staff seems to forget that children are very much in tune as to what is going on. @227 no teacher has left YET to which a@232 explains what that means. You all talk about G Brady not caring about our children. What a disgrace you all are.
@232 that’s the way to go- give those poor parents that are already worried more to think about. Thankfully not all teachers are like this and they do care about the children.you are just not one of them.
Tricia Okoruwa should have had witch hunt thought through. Ok. Okoruwa may not like academy conversion. But look at the mess she’s made.
Does Okoruwa think about children or her next bonus?
A little research finds the answer to that.
A disgrace
Okowra has brought hackneys history … [Deleted by moderator]… to the forefront of many people’s minds. Suffolk schools are glad the partnership is dying a death. There are enough issues here without this woman … [Deleted by moderator]. I have spoken to ex HLT staff and the message to Suffolk heads about the hackney Suffolk partnership is clear. Do not get involved.
Tricia Okoruwa is a disgrace.
She is simply protecting her own position and that of her mates by hounding Greg and anyone else who dares to suggest becoming an academy
You can get on in Hackney if you are prepared to betray other heads and do her bidding. It is truly poisonous and unhealthy
I too have spoken to Suffolk heads and they are appalled at what is happening and the culture of fear and bullying that exists in Hackney
A real disgrace is the lack of intervention by the DfE, Ofsted and others . Al they need to do is to speak to headteachers confidentially and then they will hear the real truth ……………………………….
246 . You are so right. It’s about time we stop cowering in fear and stood up to be counted!
I am a Suffolk Head. Many of us have recently received letters from the LA telling us that we will be forced to become sponsored academies – a different thing from The Best Start CONVERTERS. We have been given one month to write an action plan and if this does not meet requirements we will become sponsored with all the worry this will entail for staff – job security etc. It is also likely to be very disruptive for the children. I thought the partnership with Hackney was about working with Greg Wallace and Best Start. I know he has been to Ipswich a few times and was due to speak at a conference I am going to in January right here in Ipswich.
The fear that we have, knowing the reputation of Hackney Learning Trust to be that of Sweeney Todd or worse, is that Suffolk LA will partner us with HLT as the sponsor. This is the rumour that has been around for a while and now the letters seem to confirm this.
I’ve read the comments here following a tip off from a colleague who used to work in Hackney and knows my situation up here… we cannot do the Hackney model of constant bullying and changing staff – THERE ARE NO STAFF TO FILL KEY POSTS… we need a training model and that is what was appealing about the Best Federation and Greg Wallace.
I am currently Head, Child Protection, Literacy and maths co-ordinator and I also do some PPA cover.
I am alarmed that Suffolk LA will just continue to abdicate responsibility to others at any costs. We’ve heard the stories – and now I’ve read them too – why are Suffolk doing this???
We do not need any more problems here, we need clear and unambiguous solutions. I’m told Okoruwa’s solution is to pay this person off, sack that one, do a whistleblowing on the other… our schools will not cope. THIS IS NOT HACKNEY.
We have many staff who need support, this is not a debate to be had. But the Hackney model of kicking people left right and centre will leave our schools empty and who will teach the children then.
I have an MA in Educational Leadership that I worked my guts of for and learned hugely from it. I have also led a school from special measures to good.
What I need is that extra bit – and if what is said on these websites is true – then none of the Hackney team have ever done anything other than what I have done.
Leave us alone! PLEASE!
Gillian Brady is not fit/fit for her role.
She is a total mouthpiece for TO and AW. I don’t care if Wallace stays or goes – but his case has brought us all out again – and we are angry with TO, AW and the rest of these ‘senior’ staff.
I don’t see why the Citizen are not investigating some of this yourselves? You could rule a few of the blinders out by simply asking Okotuwa whether Brady and Buck do have degrees. Scan their certificates in and prove the others wrong…
It is a good point that someone made about how relevant the degree might be – but given it is a requirement – and has been for DECADES – if these staff have wallowed in the past…
These are people in their fifties +. Surely they could have sensed that if they wanted to sit in the big chairs around Okorwua’s THINK TANK that they should have something to offer? What kind of example is somone like Gillian Brady to young people? M… [Deleted by moderator].
WHY IS SHE THERE??????????????
It is a real issue.
In response to 248 you state that non of the Hackney Team have done anything other than what you have done. Your wrong! They have not even done that.
Okuwura and her team do not allow Heads and GB’s to run the schools. … [Deleted by moderator]…
Our school is meant to be recruiting a new Head and I dread the input that is going to be forced upon us. She probably already has someone lined up for the post as no-one seems to be in a hurry to put the advert out.
Why are any of them there but to line their own pockets. From what I have been told Tricia was not even a good teacher! How on earth did she manage to get to the position she is in today?
Rita Krishna has aligned herself too much with them she should resign.
The recruitment practices are a disgrace. It seems that no-one gets a job through merit but through a nod from HLT.
The HR team are useless. How did Tanya Spain mange to become a Deputy Head whilst failing to register with the General Teaching Council.
The HR at hackney is now run by Ollie Cochrane she is not up to it … we now have so many interim people none of us who have done time in here even know what is what. Good staff has been list because Olly is not a clear manager or thinker even. … [Deleted by moderator]…Then she is so quick to tell that this or that head must resign and she”ll take their laptop…. she loves that bit. Strange thing with Olly Cochrane is she came from Brent with the old head of HR who was called Corinne mills. They just left Brent in a bigger mess than they found it!`
Olly is only here for money…. she said one she could not stand Tricia. But when the last head of HR did numerous investigation into … [Deleted by moderator]… fraudulent accepting of thousand pound tickets for Leona Lewis concert performance … [Deleted by moderator]. Olly secretly hates her but she plays along to pay Enfield mortgage rate.
I want a change of scene of scene. HR HERE NOW is all time at a low…
[Deleted by moderator]
Getting a few txt messages about this comments page. I did not know we were partnered with Sussex!
Whatever next? The last heads briefing was a joke when gill spoke… I think many of us feel same. . This low quality combined with fear is truly dreadful….. HELP?
HLT is same as Ryan air.. HLT don’t have minutes of key meetings… Ryan air does not have black box. HLT put heads under insane pressure… Ryan air do same to pilots… HLT employ unqualified and unsuitable staff. Ryan air do same
We need a dispatches on HLT and on Okoruwa circle … [Deleted by moderator]
Just read a lot of theses comments and it seems like lots of existing problems just got bigger. Bring in an external team and see can they come up with some solution. Not everyone will be happy, but that’s how it is in every establishment. However, you do need the majority happy. That’s not the case now and having happy staff means happy children and good results.
Someone mentioned on here- too many women in senior position- maybe not a bad idea. Nothing wrong with a good Headmaster.
Our schools are the laughing stock of the country. Some have the qualification on paper and are just too young for the positions they are in. The next group have no qualifications and think they are doing an amazing job. How on earth are our children ever going to get the education they deserve. I can understand how stressed parents must feel.
We had a GREAT headmaster. GREG WALLACE.
Staff need security and he is who we trust. We do not want hackney to continue to mess up the schools.
Any writers amongst us? This would make a great read. All the facts are laid out here for you. Must drop my child off now and am always fearful there will be someone new sitting in Miss … seat.
@257 you are indeed correct – we HAD a great Headmaster.
All parents and teachers should contact the DFE to bring Mr Wallace back
@256 indeed they did exist before. I used to work at one of the school and was really bullied out. I asked for help, but was told to LEAVE. The Head is just not a people person and once she has it out for you – well you might as well go. You don’t have to be a rocket scientist to see something is wrong. Look at the staff turnover.
This story has reached us here in France. Poor children are the ones that are suffering.
@260- I am up for that book. Used to work at above school.Mr.Wallace did listen when you had a problem. Listening is a skill and shouting is just a weak persons way of showing their own insecurities.@256 I have had much the same experience.
As a parent reading those comments it’s upsetting and disheartening seeing what is really going on. I so want my children to have the best education I can offer them. If Staff are so unhappy this won’t happen.
Would like to know which school is looking for a new Head?
It is not one of Greg Wallace’s federated schools. So please do not worry.
@268 thank you for your reassurance. What school is this Head from that is causing staff and parents so much grief?
What a mess this has become. Sad to see but, its children that will suffer. @269 is that not the school that parents complained by staff turnover?
This person needs to be investigated alongside Mr Wallace. Mr Wallace has done good. What has she done aside bully our teacher and headteachers?
[Deleted by moderator]
What’s happened to Lolita Brown in HR she helped make many a teachers life a misery?
So many good teachers pushed out. Jobs and promotions given to friends of HLT with very little experience or passion for teaching children.
I am so worried about hr in are school. In the admin team here we recruit so many staff members we do not have all the documents required in the personal files of staff. we have dbs and crb but not all other checks like reference. It is glossed over but I am worried about who we are letting in the school. Who can I tell? I cannoy trust my managers.
For the past few months we have read and heard the name G.Brady, but in a very negative way. I too judged someone I had never met. However, I met G.Brady last week and what a polite and pleasant lady. I am not for or against HLT ,but I am prepared to give everyone a chance. BS is not perfect in any way. We need to stop with these vicious attacks.
I must say, reading these posts has been highly entertaining, but very sad.
I don’t see how insulting and naming/shaming is helping children’s education in Hackney.
This is the calibre of people education pupils in Hackney.
Marvellous!
educating* pupils in Hackney
You’re all successful in making yourselves look really bad, congratulations.
However @19 did make me laugh!
279 I have said that all along – what a disgrace they are to their schools. @234 well said.
C thanks for text. This is just as entertaining as “Homeland” @19 is hilarious. However, ( jokes aside) must be stressful for parents. I have noticed HLT have not named/shamed anyone on this board. Just an observation.
I do feel sorry for the parents I also feel sorry for the pupils.
Yes it’s amusing, but it’s not very productive at the same time.
This article is about Greg Wallace, so keep the personal attacks on people out of it. Yes it’s a comments thread so people are going to write free and easy but I’m just saying, think before you type! You’re making Hackney and HLT look like an extremely negative place, full of negative people.
It’s irrelevant who lives where, who purchased concert tickets, why X was at Y’s wedding!
Argh! Stop!
Bye
Comments are now closed. – Ed.