Hull head teacher quits after school brands locals ‘thick’ on Facebook’

The headteacher of Westcott Primary School Debbie Johnson and teacher Nyanza Roberts “decided to relinquish their posts”, after an investigation into a widely-publicised exchange on the social networking site concluded.

Miss Roberts was the first to be suspended after branding locals “thick” and “inbred” in the conversation, which involved Ms Johnson and other staff.

Hull East MP Karl Turner welcomed their decision to leave. He said: “The chair of the governors Mary Wallace has effectively been acting as headteacher.

“For the last three months she has been there non-stop along with Chris Roe, now the acting headteacher.

“The school was dragged out of special measures in October and I want to see it going from strength to strength. Parents, carers and staff will be relieved because they had absolutely no confidence in the management.

“Now they can move on with confidence that the school is properly managed.”

He added: “I am born and bred in east Hull and it does annoy me. I left school at 16 without an O-level but I am not thick and inbred; professionals shouldn‘t be calling our children thick and inbred.”

In a letter to parents Mrs Wallace said details of the investigation would remain “confidential for legal reasons.”

She went on: “However I am able to inform you Ms Johnson and Miss Roberts have decided to relinquish their posts at Westcott Primary School from December 2011 and will pursue other opportunities.

“For the other members of staff involved in this matter, this has now been concluded under the school’s Disciplinary Procedure.”

Hull Council would not comment on whether the pair had received any severance package, saying for legal reasons they were not able to go into any more detail.

In a statement the council said: “We are continuing to support the school and will now focus on moving forward to ensure that children get the best possible standards of education. For legal reasons we are not able to go into any more detail.”