Shoesmith accused by faith school parents

SHARON SHOESMITH is at the centre of controversy over the suspension of a faith school headteacher.

She faces allegations that she was too heavy handed in suspending June Alexis from John Loughborough School in February and instigating legal proceedings against parents who invaded a classroom in protest.

Dr Alexis was suspended from the Seventh Day Adventist school in Tottenham amid fears that it was in "meltdown". Haringey sent in a "hit squad" to rescue the school sparking furious protests.

Members of the school's Parent Teacher Association were served with an injunction banning them from the premises after 30 parents stormed a classroom.

PTA chairwoman Njeri Yebieman has now been accused of breaching the order and faces up to two years in prison if found guilty at a court hearing expected to take place at the end of this month.

The council, under Mrs Shoesmith's guidance, instigated the civil action against Ms Yebieman, who has a child at the school.

In a statement, the PTA said: "We find the council extremely autocratic with no regard for our parental rights and believe our school's Seventh Day Adventist ethos and its African-Caribbean profile are significant factors in this aggressive, disdainful approach."

The PTA has begun a campaign to get Dr Alexis reinstated by urging parents to lobby Mrs Shoesmith by telephoning her directly at the council.

Haringey council says Dr Alexis was suspended because the school was the "worst performing" in London.

A spokesman said at the time: "This move is to improve leadership, standards achieved by the students and the quality of provision at the school so that the young people can enjoy better longer-term opportunities."