MANOR primary in Tilbury was plunged into its second governor exodus in under three years as the whole body has quit following a financial investigation.
The exodus follows an audit by the council in February last year. The council put a number of questions to the governors in December.
It appears that the governors left because they felt they were not given enough time.
A spokesperson for Thurrock Council said: “The governing body of Manor Primary School in Tilbury has resigned with immediate effect.
“Thurrock Council was in the process of seeking permission for an interim executive board after it was made aware of details of an audit carried out at the school.
“The council is working closely with Alex Seaford, the head teacher to ensure appropriate interim arrangements are put in place and the council will support the school in every way it can.”
The council’s statement seems to indicate that the governors jumped before they were pushed.
In 2010, YT reported that the chair of governors had been removed by Thurrock Council after the local education authority said it had: “lost confidence in the governing body.”
This second schism comes as Ofsted is due to inspect the school, a school that has now attracted its fair share of headlines over the last three years.
And you do wonder if Ofsted may bowdlerise the Oscar Wilde dictum that to lose one may be regarded as unfortunate but to lose two may be regarded as carelessness?
Late last year, YT reported that the school had seen an exodus of (19) students go from Manor to the new Gateway Free School. Many expect there to be even more in 2013-14 and this latest news will hardly inspire confidence in the beleaguered school.
The irony is that there seems to be great plans for the school.
In June, the Thurrock Council planning committee voted to “approve the demolition of existing infant block and construction of a new single storey school building and associated landscaping to accommodate facilities of the newly agglomerated Manor Primary School.”
And in December a planning application was submitted last month for the re-location of the BMW Olympic Pavilion into the grounds of Manor Primary School.
If permission is granted the pavilion will be used as a multipurpose hall, school reception, administration and as a flood refuge for the pupils and staff of Manor School.
