Statement from Lib Dem Council Leader Isobel McCall about Gatehouse School (Milton Keynes Liberal Democrats)

Milton Keynes Liberal Democrats <info@mk-libdems.co.uk>

Statement from Lib Dem Council Leader Isobel McCall about Gatehouse School

March 6, 2009 7:10 PM

"The Liberal Democrat administration has been deeply saddened and shocked by what the recently published independent report reveals about Gatehouse school.

"I have total confidence in Sandra Clark as Cabinet member for Children and Young People. It is clear from the report that Sandra has repeatedly raised concerns about the school with senior officers of the Council. In doing so, she acted entirely appropriately and undertook all she could and should be expected to do. The concerns were raised with her by parents and people who live near the school. None of the concerns related to the restraint of children.

"This is not a political issue and I hope that no political party tries to make it into a party-political point-scoring exercise. There are no recommendations for Sandra or any other cabinet member to address in the report. All councillors, council officers and school governors should be working together to make sure that there are no schools within Milton Keynes where this could happen again.

"Sandra has obviously taken the matter very seriously; from the moment she was made aware there were problems. Many of the officers who were involved in this and other issues regarding Milton Keynes schools are no longer employed by the Council. Any current officers of the Council who are found to have failed to carry out their duties fully will be dealt with.

"The Council is already implementing the recommendations in this report. What is important is that we now work together to ensure that nothing like this must ever happen in Milton Keynes again.

"On behalf of the Council, I send my sincere apologies to the young people of Gatehouse School and their families."