Academy head returns but school still won’t say why it suspended her

An academy school has been branded “ludicrous” after taking disciplinary action against its award-winning headteacher and refusing to say why.

Jo Shuter was suspended as head of Quintin Kynaston school in St John’s Wood eight months ago following allegations of “financial irregularities”.

The board of governors reinstated her this week but gave her a formal final written warning. It refused to say what she had been investigated for.

Murad Qureshi, a former pupil and now a London Assembly member, called on the school to release full details of the case saying it is a “ludicrous” situation.

He said: “Parents are very concerned. They are none the wiser about why the head was suspended for so long. It is bizarre and perplexing that something like that can happen without an explanation.”

He said the school is able to stay quiet about the details because it is an academy, so is not under the control of the local authority.”

He added: “This could happen elsewhere. This is a product of the fact the school reports directly to the Department for Education. It shows a total lack of accountability.”

Ms Shuter, 52, was named “head teacher of the year” in 2007 and awarded a CBE for services to education in 2010. She was suspended from Quintin Kynaston School in September following allegations which she branded “malicious and vindictive”.

She spoke of her “delight” after the school’s board of governors announced it had reinstated her despite issuing a formal warning. The school’s governing body said robust new measures have been put in place to make sure the conduct which sparked its probe “does not recur”.

Ms Shuter said: “I hope the parents will be happy. I will be back in my job and the fact that decision has been made has to speak for itself with regards to the allegations.”