School complaints: Catholic Cover-Up

I'm no good telling jokes because I can never remember them; at best, I can usually remember only the punchline.  For example, I vaguely remember a joke about a punter in a working men's club mis-hearing what act was performing at the club. Don't remember the details, and it was a bit convoluted, but the punch line was:

- I thought you said it was Country and Western tonight?  
 -nah, I said "it's some cunt from Hexham"

Now I don't know anyone from Hexham, but I have had the misfortune to deal with the director of education at the Hexham & Newcastle diocese, Joe Hughes.

Joe Hughes - not a cunt

A year ago I had reason to complain about the head teacher and my children's school. I won't go into the details here, but we were treated fairly shabbily and not one aspect of a model complaints procedure was complied with. 

A complaints procedure ought to have the following steps

- complain to headteacher.

- if not resolved or is about the headteacher, go to the head of governors.

- Governor's complaints panel convened.

- If not satisfied then you refer the matter to the local authority or, in the case of catholic schools, to the diocese.

-  Then it is the Department for Education.

Unfortunately for me, the school does not have a complaints procedure which is clearly in breach of the Education Act.

Anyway, did anyone try to address my complaint properly.?  NO - the head ignored it and the head of Governors, a Priest, just discussed it with the head and took her word for it.

So, when I took the matter to the Education Director of Hexham & Newcastle Diocese, Joe Hughes, did he deal with my complaint satisfactorily?  NOPE!  He tried to impose a communication policy on us - effectively preventing us from directly contacting the school - we are supposed to communicate with a "specialist minute taker" from the local authority.

So I wrote to genial Joe:

"In respect of the communication protocol you have imposed without our consent, please let us know the following:

Why is this being imposed?

Why do you think we should adhere to it?

How long will this communication protocol be in force?

In addition, can you confirm that the home-school diary will continue on an from the 28^th April 2014?

We trust you will respond to this email before the start of next term."

Well, he didn't respond in time, but when he did, this is what he said:

Why is it being imposed?

"the protocol is designed to clarify unambiguously the various channels which are to be used according to circumstances."

Why do you think we should adhere to it?

"as my last letter to you stated clearly the protocol commenced on 28 April 2014"

How long will this communication protocol be in force?

"it may well be sensible to review it at the start of the new academic year in September"

Can you confirm that the home-school diary will continue on an from the 28^th April 2014?

"It will continue but it will be reviewed after the half-term break"

What a CUNT!