Browse Sections
Interactive
Popular Sections
Cold with some sunNews
| 
Submit Comments
DEPUTY headteacher Peter Fisher has come to the defence of headteacher Philip Harte over claims by Councillor John Warmisham that he was ‘trying to get a big stage for himself’.
advertisement
‘Attack was rash and ill-advised’
Emma Fitzgerald26/10/2006
THE deputy headteacher of St George's has sprung to the defence of its headteacher who was criticised for grabbing the limelight in the battle to stop it shutting.
Councillor John Warmisham, the city's education leader, accused St George's headteacher Philip Harte of 'trying to get a big stage for himself' after he described a council drop-in session to discuss the plans as 'an absolute fiasco'.
Mr Harte said he was 'astonished' by the personal attack. Now his deputy headteacher Peter Fisher has come to the defence of the head who was praised by Ofsted for his inspirational leadership.
Mr Fisher, who has been at the Walkden school for 26 years, said: "I have worked here under four headteachers and under Mr Harte's leadership there's been the most significant improvement in academic achievements and standards as well as pupil behaviour.
"Councillor Warmisham's rash and ill-advised verbal attack on Mr Harte is surely an indication that Salford City Council is vacating the high moral ground in the debate over the Building Schools for the Future proposals.
"Mr Harte is a man of integrity - it is less than two years ago Ofsted and Salford Diocesan Inspectors described him as 'an inspirational leader'."
Mr Fisher added: "When Mr Harte was told 'there is no future for St George's', what was he to do, allow Salford City Council to destroy the community where his vision has led to Ofsted stating this is a 'school where every child matters'?
"Inspirational and aspirational teaching at St George's has led to 86 per cent of pupils achieving a level five in English in the 2006 SATs - this figure is bettered only by St Patrick's RC High and Beis Yaakov schools in Salford."
Mr Fisher says the Building Schools for the Future programme 'is about transformation, not the destruction which is apparently St George's fate'.
He added: "Councillor Warmisham should note that in attacking Mr Harte he is insulting every member of staff, every parent, every pupil, past, present and future who stand behind, or rather alongside our 'inspirational leader', in a quest for our share of BSF funding from Central Government.
"Proposing to close a successful, oversubscribed, faith school with an outstanding capacity to improve and newly acquired technology college status flies in the face of Government policy."
Most recent 2 of 5 user comments
1/11/2006 at 15:54
Got an opinion you want to share?| Card | BT Fee |
| Virgin Credit Card | 2.98% |
| Capital One Low Rate Balance Transfer | 1.7% |
| Capital One Low Rate Platinum | HASH(0x2b601b410b30) |
| Capital One Fixed Rate Card | 0.0% |
| Company | Typical APR |
| Platinum Exclusive Loan | 7.8% |
| Bank of Scotland (Semi-exclusive) | 8.6% |
| Halifax (Semi-exclusive) | 8.6% |
| Alliance & Leicester | 8.7% |
| Sainsbury's Personal Loan | 8.9% |
| Provider | AER* |
|
ICICI BANK HiSAVE Savings Account |
5.50% |
|
SAINSBURYS FINANCE Internet Saver |
4.00% |
|
FIRST DIRECT Everyday e-Saver |
2.75% |
|
ALLIANCE & LEICESTER Online Tracker |
6.00% |
|
ABBEY Instant Access Saver (Special Issue 2) |
6.00% |
|
ING DIRECT Savings Account |
6.00% |
|
ALLIANCE & LEICESTER eSaver - Issue 2 |
6.30% |
|
ABBEY eSaver Direct |
6.00% |
|
POST OFFICE Instant Saver |
3.75% |
1/11/2006 at 18:27