Ealing LEA backs excluded families in legal action

Colin Lowther, the head teacher of Southfield Primary school, could face legal action from the families of the pupils he excluded after a violent assault on two mothers in the school�s infant playground

The exclusion, which took effect today Thursday 6th March on the grounds of healthy and safety, has the support of the vast majority of the parents, teachers and governors at the school but is in defiance of council regulations.

Police on patrol at school as parents collect children

Ealing council is backing a legal action by one of the mothers against the head. Margaret Doyle, whose children Rosie, five, and Nicholas, nine, are among the six pupils barred, has revealed plans to challenge the decision on the basis that the headteacher had exceeded his powers at an independent appeals panel.

Ms Doyle is also being assisted by Ealing council's traveller education support service. She claims that "Mr Lowther just wants us out. He's been prejudiced against travelling people. My children do not need to be involved. They were not involved in what happened and they have been excluded because they are travelling children." She also claims that her children are frightened and are suffering as a result of the exclusion.

Ealing council's Labour leader John Cudmore has also come out in support of the excluded families "I don't think the head teacher can decide to exclude pupils himself. If the governing body decides to exclude these pupils we will respond to that."

Mr Lowther stands by his decision reasoning that the school couldn�t guarantee that there wouldn�t be any repeat of violent or abusive behaviour and that his concern was to protect the school.
The decision to exclude is taken by a head teacher. The school governors can then hear an appeal from the parents of the excluded child and can decide whether to back the head or reinstate the pupil. If the governors back the head, the parents can then take their case to an independent appeals panel, set up by local education authorities.

March 6, 2003

Crisis for local school after playground attack