 | | Question: Our local village school is under threat of closure in July 2007 due to forecasted falling roll numbers. The parents and community are not going to let this happen. We have a few options that we believe the LEA have not considered and are planning to meet with them to discuss these options. However, we feel very strongly that our headteacher is not supporting us (we believe that it will be to her benefit, career-wise, should the school close). The headteacher is putting various obstacles in our way and clearly fobbing us off when we put questions to her. Can we, as parents, make a vote of no confidence in our Head and if so, how should we go about this?
Joan Sallis replies: Every time I answer a batch of questions there seems to be someone wanting to pass a vote of no confidence in the head or someone else who is alleged to have merited it. I usually have to say that it may make you feel better but in general it does not have the status which questioners assume. In your case you disagree with the line the head is taking. That is all you mean really. You don’t mean she’s a rotten head. That would be a different matter altogether and could be important in some circumstances. But nobody is going to disregard her opinion because you have a different one. Having got that off my chest I can only wish you luck and advise you to go on publicising your case against closure, Meet the LEA as you plan, get the maximum parent support and lobby your governing body.
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