County council refuse to tell parents why headteacher was dismissed at former Robin Hood Primary

Education chiefs at Nottinghamshire County Council are refusing to disclose the reasons why a headteacher was given the sack from a Mansfield Woodhouse primary school.
Robin Hood Primary School, Mansfield Woodhouse.Robin Hood Primary School, Mansfield Woodhouse.
Robin Hood Primary School, Mansfield Woodhouse.

Parents say they are still in the dark as to why Julie Rowbottom was fired from her headteaching role at the former Robin Hood Primary.

She was suspended from her position at the Oxclose Lane school in November 2013 following allegations of gross misconduct over an ‘incident’.

Following a lengthy investigation, the decision to dismiss her was upheld recently.

Yet parents have still not been given a reason for the decision.

Chad spoke to parents outside the school, which is now known as The Bramble Academy and is under a new panel of governors and headteacher.

One father said: “We have not had a letter about it, The last we heard it was at the appeal stage. Nobody could give us any information, a lot of what we have heard has just been hear say. It’s very odd.

“She was there for a lot of years, I wish we did know what had happened.”

Coun. Joyce Bosnjak outside the Meadows Care Home on Park Hall Road, Mansfield Woodhouse, which has recently shut.Coun. Joyce Bosnjak outside the Meadows Care Home on Park Hall Road, Mansfield Woodhouse, which has recently shut.
Coun. Joyce Bosnjak outside the Meadows Care Home on Park Hall Road, Mansfield Woodhouse, which has recently shut.

Another mother added: “We got a letter saying she was suspended, but that’s it.

“I think we should be told, especially as she was looking after our children.

“Everyone at the school would like to know, because it’s not fair that it’s been kept from us.”

Since Mrs Rowbottom was suspended, many parents and former pupils have come forward to give explanations as to why she may been put under investigation, however, Chad is unable to print them for legal reasons .

Robin Hood Primary was deemed inadequate by Ofsted inspectors last year, but progress is being made under the sponsorship of The Evolve Trust, founded by The Brunts Academy.

The old name, headteacher, governors and even school uniform have been replaced.

County and district councillor in Mansfield Woodhouse, Joyce Bosnjak, spoke to Chad this week and said she backed the parents in finding out exactly why Julie Rowbottom was dismissed from her post.

She said: “I don’t blame them, if I was parent I would want to know.

“I’m not sure if it was anything major, so I don’t know why the full details can’t be given to the parents.”

Despite repeated requests by Chad for an explanation as to why the details of the dismissal could not be disclosed, Nottinghamshire County Council has failed to provide one.

Chad had also requested to speak with the council’s service director for education standards, John Slater, but he was unavailable for comment.

Pictured: the former Robin Hood Primary School, Julie Rowbottom and (bottom) Coun Joyce Bosnjak.