A FAILING Birmingham secondary riven by conflict between the head, governors and staff, is about to become the first in Britain to be taken over by a board of “super governors”.

The entire governing body at Washwood Heath technology will be replaced by a hand-picked interim executive board of experienced professionals, in post for up to two years. Education Secretary Estelle Morris is expected to use new powers in the 2002 Education Act to rubberstamp the change on the school, which neighbours her Yardley constituency.

The move follows a bitter18-month row and a critical inspectors’ report which warned of a climate of intimidation at the largely Muslim school.

Inspectors who visited Washwood in March concluded it did not provide an acceptable standard of education. They said governors were “very poor” at fulfilling their responsibilities and found “considerable disharmony” between groups of governors and the senior management team.

Some governors had accused staff of racism - not backed up by the inspectors - while teachers had recorded three votes of no-confidence in their governing body.

One insider told The TES: “The level of vitriol, of accusation directed at the head, was extraordinary. People were called liars and racists across the table. The way they (governors) conducted themselves was appalling.”

Inspectors said the relationship between headteacher Jim Collins and a faction of governors became untenable, leading him and half of the staff at the 1,250-pupil school to quit last year.

Then staff, who believed governors were not acting in the interests of Washwood, called in the local authority. Eight governors had signed a petition saying they could not work with the head.

Mr Collins, faced with threats to suspend him, was seconded to the LEA in April 2001, and later resigned. He became principal of New College in Leicester this term.

Asian parent governors insist they were worried about standards, particularly in the sixth form, and also had concerns about discipline and worship. A recent review of the school’s sixth form confirmed their concerns and the school has now established separate assemblies for Muslim pupils.

Claims that governors wanted to create a Muslim school, based on a departing teacher’s comment that there was “a clear agenda to appoint more Asian staff regardless of their suitability,” have been denied by the local authority and governors.

Retired Birmingham headteacher Cecil Knight, who will lead the new panel, said the school’s problems reflected wider changes in society, as Muslims came to terms “with living in a non-Muslim society characterised by Western liberal views”. However, he said parent-governors’ concerns about worship should have been addressed sooner.

Dr Mohammed Yasin, a parent-governor, is opposed to the interim board.He said: “This is totally wrong and unfair. Our only agenda is for every child in the school to have the best education.”

In May 2001 the authority commissioned an independent inquiry chaired by Shahid Malik, then working for the Commission for Racial Equality.

He told The TES that the biggest challenge in metropolitan areas was ensuring schools, run almost exclusively by white management teams, reflected their communities and were sensitive to their diverse needs.

His recommendations on training for governors and school managers and reviewing sixth-form provision, collective worship and staffing policies were included in a warning notice served on the governors by the local authority in August 2001, requiring them to improve. It also appointed six extra governors, including Mr Knight as chairman.

But after the school was put in special measures this spring, officials appointed an acting head and sought Department for Education and Skills advice on replacing the governing body with an interim executive board.

Last year 34 per cent of Washwood pupils gained five or more top grade GCSEs compared to the Birmingham average of 41 per cent and the national average of 50 per cent.

However, the school ranked 36th out of 463 specialist colleges on a value-added analysis, better than expected given pupils’ low attainment at 11.

Mr Collins declined to talk to The TES but the Secondary Heads’ Association said he was a good manager and successful head.

WHAT THE INSPECTORS SAID

“The school has undergone a period of considerable disharmony between factions of the governors, members of the senior management team and the local authority. The conflict has made life very difficult for everyone in the school.”

“Washwood Heath technology college does not provide an acceptable standard of education. This is mostly because the governing body does not provide a clear direction or work together in a cohesive way.”

“The present climate of the school is intimidatory.”

“The overall quality of teaching and learning is unsatisfactory. Standards throughout the school are well below average.”

“The previous headteacher resigned because relationships with a faction of the governors became untenable.”

“The mistrust and disharmony that exist are damaging the school’s capacity to make longer-term plans.”

WASHWOOD’S WOES

April 2001: Head Jim Collins seconded to LEA as governors threaten suspension. LEA proposes independent inquiry chaired by Shahid Malik.

May 2001: 20 staff vacancies.

August 2001: LEA issues warning notice incorporating inquiry recommendations.

October 2001: Governors admit failures and accept additional LEA governors, including new chairman Cecil Knight.

December 2001: Jim Collins resigns.

Feb 2002: LEA extends warning notice as progress being made.

March 2002: Office for Standards in Education inspection.

April 2002: LEA considers replacing governors with “interim executive board”.

July 2002: Ofsted report says school is failing.

October 2002: Interim board poised to take over.