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PARENTS have backed a headteacher who was suspended for saying some of her staff were "sat at home doing nothing" during lockdown.

Pauline Wood, head of Grange Park primary in Sunderland for 15 years, is being investigated for allegedly bringing the school into disrepute.

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Pauline Wood is being investigated for potentially bringing her Sunderland school into disrepute
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Pauline Wood is being investigated for potentially bringing her Sunderland school into disreputeCredit: Grange Park
The school governors suspended Ms Wood after a complaint was lodged about her 'potentially disparaging comments'
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The school governors suspended Ms Wood after a complaint was lodged about her 'potentially disparaging comments'Credit: Grange Park Primary School/Facebook

During the interview on BBC Radio Newcastle, Ms Wood described some of her teachers as "behaving like petulant kids".

She also accused them of bragging about "more time watching Netflix" than working from home during the pandemic.

She has now been backed by parents over her comments.

Taking to social media, one wrote: "Me and my husband selected Grange Park as our first choice for our little boy to attend in September.

"We have had the place accepted but I'm gutted you won't be head! Good on you for speaking the truth!

"I am slightly nervous that standards are going to drop! Hopefully not!"

Another wrote: "Well done Pauline Wood. The lack of support from some schools/teachers has been a national disgrace. You should be reinstated immediately."

One wrote: "A head teacher with a backbone! Anyone in Sunderland should write to their MP and local media showing support for this common sense, straight talking, award nominated Head Teacher. Well done Pauline Wood."

While another parent tweeted: "'I think Pauline Wood deserves a pat on the back for being honest.

"I work with teachers every day and I can guarantee some really are lazy. Some have not worked 10 hours a week let alone flat out."

A former pupil also praised the headteacher, writing: "Best HT ever!!! Speaking from my 4-11-year-old self.

"True inspiration, hard working, passionate (extremely glamorous) and dedication to educating her pupils. Huge respect."

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Ms Wood was suspended after the interviewer read out text messages from parents worried about the level of support schools in general were offering their kids during the Covid-19 crisis.

One suggested the idea all schools were working hard to help pupils was "simply wrong".

When asked for her opinion, Ms Wood replied: "Yes, some teachers have been in [schools], but many have not been in at any time. Safety is paramount, but don't make out teachers have all been working flat out."

She went on to say some teachers were working hard "coming up with the most imaginative, amazing things" but that others "sit at home doing nothing - I won't defend those people."

Asked if that included teachers at her school, she said: "Yes, I think it's time we talked about the elephant in the room."

Last week a UCL study found a staggering 2.3 million children across the UK were hardly doing any schoolwork at all in lockdown.

Nationally, kids are spending on average just 2.5 hours a day working – around half of what was previously thought.

The schools shutdown is "tragically" fuelling educational divides, with poor kids and those in the North East losing out most, the researchers said.

The BBC interviewer said Ms Wood's comments were "very refreshing" but school governors suspended her after a complaint was made.

She was told this "raised serious concerns about your professional conduct and judgment...which potentially brings the school into disrepute".

Mary Hodgson, chairwoman of the school governors, told Schools Week she could not speak to anyone about "personal circumstances as it would be a breach of confidentiality".

Ms Wood told the Sun Online: "As a head teacher, I think all adults in charge of children's life chances should be excellent role models, so I give truthful answers, behave with dignity and refuse to be bullied into PC.

"It is very concerning that a headteacher can be suspended for giving a truthful answer to questions posed by members of the public."

Writing on Twitter, she added: "As head teachers, our job descriptions say we should hold staff to account. Advice in lockdown is not to do disciplinaries, capabilities or appraisals.

"My school will have a new Senior Leadership Team in September so I asked the new Chair to listen to my significant concerns about a minority of staff and my excellent middle leaders presented evidence to her too. Her reply was 'I just want everyone to be happy'.

"So, paid full time, work less than half time, sod the children. I set up our learning platform, I directed staff to phone parents. You don't get to be outstanding easily, and it's even harder to stay there."

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She added that the situation was "disheartening", especially considering the "great and sustained outcomes under my leadership".

Under Ms Wood's 15 year leadership, the school has gone from "inadequate" to "outstanding".

Under Ms Wood's leadership, Grange Park primary in Sunderland has gone from 'inadequate' to 'outstanding'
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Under Ms Wood's leadership, Grange Park primary in Sunderland has gone from 'inadequate' to 'outstanding'Credit: Google
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