Head suspended over teacher’s Facebook ‘insults’

Debbie Johnson, the head of Westcott Primary School in Hull, was suspended on Friday. Deputy head Chris Roe is due to stand in when pupils return to school at the end of half-term next week.

Miss Johnson’s suspension came 12 days after a female teacher apparently branded locals “thick” and “inbred” on the social networking website.

The headteacher had allegedly taken part in the conversation along with other members of staff, but later said the remarks had been taken out of context, and said the online chat involved “banter about rugby from both sides of the city”.

Hull Council is carrying out an investigation, but the final decision will rest with the school’s governors.

At a public meeting last week parents said they felt let down by the teachers at the centre of the row.

Hull East MP Karl Turner said he believed all those involved in the chat should have been suspended from the outset.

He said: “I think the implications of these comments are very serious and as such all of those involved should have been suspended at the outset, including the head. I now understand the two teachers that were involved have been suspended.

“I have met with Mary Wallace, the chairman of governors at the school and I have every confidence that she will deal with this situation appropriately.

“She will work with Hull City Council to establish who did what. Subject to the outcome of Hull City Council’s inquiry the board of governors will decide on the appropriate disciplinary action should any be required.”

Mrs Wallace apologised to parents after the remarks, apparently posted by the female teacher, first came to light, which contain the now infamous description of people living in the east of the city: “no wonder everyone is thick... inbreeding must damage brain development.”

It is understood inquiries will take “at least another couple of weeks”.

Meanwhile an investigation continues into two other teachers at a secondary school in the East Riding, who could also face disciplinary action over a conversation about groups of children at the school. It was launched after pupils at South Holderness Technology College, at Preston, near Hull, passed round copies of the messages, which apparently contain crude language and originated from an online chat between three members of staff. An investigating officer has been appointed to carry out inquiries.