Regime at Wolverhampton school was brutal – staff member
A staff member who worked at a city primary school when teachers were alleged to have locked children in a cupboard as punishment says the regime at the school at the time was brutal and threatening.
Up to 20 parents claim that their children were disciplined by being shut away in a stationery cupboard for periods of up to three hours at Woodthorne Primary School, Tettenhall, in 2012.
An investigation was launched by Wolverhampton City Council, but no evidence of wrongdoing was found. Now a member of staff, who asked not to be named, has accused the authority of deliberately covering up the mistreatment of children which she said went on with the full blessing of senior leaders at the school.
The member of staff said: "In staff meetings we were encouraged to turn a blind eye to the abuse and warned not to discuss the issues with parents. Everyone from the top down knew it was going on. Most of us were worried about what would happen if we said anything. I saw children being led into a cupboard.
"It was just wrong. At the time the atmosphere at the school was threatening."
The staff member said that on one occasion two children, who were known to be from difficult backgrounds, were led into the cupboard.
"I watched it happen and just seeing their reaction was very sad. They were very distressed and upset. It was a brutal way to discipline children. They didn't even understand what they had done wrong."
Mystery still surrounds the investigation which took place following the allegations.
At the time the only comment from the city council said there was no case to answer – a response the authority has repeated.
To date no report into the allegations has been made public, despite copies being requested by Wolverhampton South West MP Paul Uppal and Conservative leader Wendy Thompson.
South Staffordshire MP Gavin Williamson said he has considered tabling Parliamentary questions about the case.
The member of staff claims to be one of at least three workers at the school who volunteered to give statements to investigators.
"No feedback was given until they eventually told us that the allegations were groundless. That was that – as far as they were concerned.
"I was horrified. This is a massive injustice which was covered up by people at the school and covered up by the council. All of the parents and children involved in this deserve an apology at the very least."
Education secretary Nicky Morgan recently praised the school for improvements it has made over the last two years.
Woodthorne was rated as good by Ofsted following its last inspection in June.
