EXCLUSIVE Headteacher ‘used N-word to describe black pupils’ at ‘toxic’ primary school at centre of racism and bullying storm: Third of pupils have now been pulled from lessons by their worried parents
- EXCLUSIVE: Pupils leaving St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School in droves
- Headteacher Sue Woods allegedly used the N-word to describe black children
Teachers, governors and pupils are leaving a ‘toxic’ primary school in droves over allegations of ‘commonplace’ racism, bullying and serious failings.
St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School in Malmesbury, Wiltshire, has lost around a third of its pupils as parents pull their children out amid a plethora of concerns.
Causing the most consternation is an allegation that in November 2021, the headteacher Sue Woods – who took over headship in late 2019 – used the N-word to describe a group of black children.
The whistleblower, an experienced and long-serving teacher, claims that she was put on a support plan and told to complete demeaning tasks, became frightened at work and felt victimised.
She resigned in May 2022, citing that ‘I did not feel I could continue working in a school where racism, bullying and victimisation were commonplace, especially when such allegations were covered up’.
St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School’s former heacteacher Sue Woods is accused of using the N-word to describe a group of black pupils
Following the alleged incident, all school staff were sent on a diversity awareness course.
Wiltshire Police said (26 July 2023) that it was investigating an allegation relating to staff conduct, but confirmed that it did not relate to children at St Joseph’s.
They said: ‘An allegation involving staff conduct has been reported to Wiltshire Police. It would be inappropriate to comment further at this stage.’
The whistleblower isn’t the only teacher to have walked out, with about 22 staff leaving since the new head’s arrival. In the past three months alone, three staff members have resigned including the assistant headteacher.
Many of them cited Mrs Woods’ behaviour as the reason in exit interviews and at least two staff members were close to taking their own lives, according to an insider.
Over the past four years, the school has seen a dive in pupil numbers. Before Mrs Woods’ takeover, the school had around 150 pupils and was regularly oversubscribed.
In September this year, the reception class will host just four children. The rapid fall in pupil numbers has resulted in a reduction of classes from five to four, with the loss of a teacher and teaching assistant post.
According to an Ofsted Parent View questionnaire carried out earlier this year, 82 percent of parents were unsatisfied with the school’s ability to support SEND children and 45 percent of parents who partook said they would not recommend the school to other parents.
There are claims that some parents were told that their child’s SEND assessment was awaiting review by Wiltshire Council.
However, after waits of up to two years, some parents contacted the council directly to discover that no assessments have been sent in by the school.
Whilst parents of children attending nearby Kemble Primary School said they would 100 percent recomm+ended it to others and 96 percent would recommend Crudwell Church of England Primary School.
In another alleged incident, death threats were sent to a pupil via an online learning platform. According to the insider, it’s believed one pupil accessed another pupil’s account to send the threatening messages.
When the victim’s parents got involved and asked the school if the police were informed, the senior leadership team reportedly claimed that they had been – but couldn’t provide a crime reference number or other information.
On checking with the police, it was confirmed that no report had ever been made in relation to the incident.
St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School in Malmesbury, Wiltshire where a third of pupils have reportedly been removed by their parents due to the ‘toxic’ culture of ‘bullying and racism’
It’s alleged that members of the senior leadership team called the boy – who was accepted to be an innocent party – in for a meeting and effectively told him that the police will be coming to question him about it. It’s said the boy was left in tears and scared about what might happen next.
In a shock move in June, more than half the St Joseph’s governing body resigned, losing six out of seven foundation governors and the school’s only local authority governor.
It came after the board had attempted to investigate numerous allegations made against the headteacher – and were reportedly blocked by Wiltshire Council.
In a joint letter they said: ‘We have not reached this decision lightly but regrettably our relationship with the senior leadership of the school has strained over the last few years.
‘We have tried to fulfil our duty to you, the pupils of the school, the local authority and the Diocese but it has now reached point where we feel we can longer discharge our statutory function with any true meaning.
‘Over the many years that our members have supported the school we have enjoyed excellent working relationships with the outstanding teaching and support staff.
‘Sadly, we have seen far too many of them and pupils leave in the past few years.
‘We wish to extend our thanks to staff past and present for their tireless efforts and dedication to the school and we wish them every success in the future.’
There are calls for complete transparency around issues that have arisen, full investigations, following established best practice, to be undertaken with the results being made available to school staff, governors and parents to restore the reputation and standing of the school in the community once more.
An insider said that leaving the issues unaddressed has had a ‘huge and harmful impact on the community’ and wants Wiltshire Council and the Diocese to step up to avoid the school’s complete collapse.
Andy Brown, Corporate Director of Resources and Deputy Chief Executive, Wiltshire Council, said: ‘We have robust policies and processes in place to deal with any incident reported to us.
‘We are confident that the Interim Executive Board will ensure that governance is robust and rigorous with all appropriate processes being followed.’
A spokesperson for the Interim Executive Board at St Joseph’s said: ‘As a responsible employer, we don’t discuss the individual circumstances of any current or former employees.
‘The Interim Executive Board will address the complaints and concerns raised, and ensure that governance is robust and rigorous with all appropriate processes being followed.’
A spokesperson for Clifton Diocese said: ‘The Interim Executive Board are responsible for Governance in the School and the Diocese is confident that they will review the complaints and concerns raised and ensure that all appropriate processes are being followed.’
MailOnline contacted St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School for comment.
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