Frustrated 'parent champion' quits The Misbourne

May 24 2011 By Lawrence Poole

Steve Anderson has quit as 'parent champion' of struggling school The Misbourne

THE 'parent champion' of a struggling Great Missenden school has quit the role in frustration at the lack of progress being made.

Steve Anderson was appointed to the Interim Executive Board of The Misbourne last December, which was set up to replace the existing board and help get the school out of special measures.

He quit his role representing school parents as he felt the position has become "untenable".

Mr Anderson said: "I had become frustrated at the lack of progress being made. I'm used to helping to turn around businesses and solving problems, but action needs to be taken rapidly. A governing body for a school the size of The Misbourne would be twice the size of the IEB, yet there's double the workload to be done there – I find it a bizarre arrangement and I don't think they have control of the situation."

The arts and technology college has 1225-pupils and despite a noted improvement in the results of years 10 and 11, one parent who did not want to be named, feels younger pupils are suffering as a result.

She said: "I'm very pleased with the work they are putting into years 10 and 11 as that was really needed, but they have neglected the other children as a result."

Mr Anderson added: "I think the the head (John Robinson) is struggling, but I don't think that's necessarily the result of his ability. I think it's a teachers problem, not a pupils one and they need more support from the local authority to turn it around more quickly – it should only take three to six months."

Alan Armstrong, chairman of the IEB, said: "It would not be appropriate for me to comment in any detail on the reasons for Steve's resignation. However, I can say that the IEB is more optimistic than Steve, although we acknowledge that progress has not been as fast as we had hoped.

"The introduction of three senior professionals to the senior team has accelerated the rate of improvement at the school."

Mr Robinson did not want to comment.