Coseley School closure: I was forced out over campaign to stop students being 'forced' on Dormston, says ex-governor

Sedgley councillor Michael Evans is no longer a governor role at Dormston School after 16 years following a campaign to stop students joining from Coseley School, which will be closed by the council in August 2017.

Councillor Evans said he was removed because he had 'spoken against' the council's decision to 'force students' on Dormston from Coseley School. More than 80 who used to attend Coseley were taken on by Dormston at the start of this new school year.

Councillor Evans said: "Dudley Council has removed me because I spoke out against the authority's decision to close Coseley School and force pupils on Dormston. I was given two options to resign or be removed from the post. I wasn't resigning because I felt what I had done wasn't wrong.

"I believe the most important job as a governor is to protect the students and education of the school, and that is what I feel I have done throughout. With Dudley Council trying to force children on Dormston School, it will affect the education of the children they have there. But I will be keeping a close on the situation. If issues arise at Dormston School because the quality of education drops, then I will be going back to Dudley Council about it."

Bosses at Dormston school objected to the original decision to take on extra pupils and wrote to the Secretary of State regarding the matter, but Dudley Council's decision was upheld by the Department for Education.

Councillor Evans was notified that he was to be 'relieved of his post' at the end of the summer term. He appealed the decision, but 'an independent panel upheld the council's decision', council bosses said.

Councillor Ian Cooper, Cabinet member for children's services said: "The role of a local authority governor is to work with the local authority in partnership with local schools and to commit to the education of all children in the borough, not just those attending a single school.

"Governors play an extremely important role in driving forward the strategic direction and development of our schools and, in order to demonstrate their willingness to undertake these duties, all of our governors, be they parent, co-opted or local authority, agree to abide by a Code of Conduct, which if breached can result in their removal from the post of governor."

The position of governor is a voluntary and unpaid role. An LEA governor is appointed by the local authority. Councillor Evans said he is still associated with the school and would look at coming back to Dormston in a different governing role.