THE HEADTEACHER of a West Oxfordshire primary school has expressed his disappointment at a perceived attack on teachers last week.

In an interview on Radio 4 on Thursday, Ofsted head Amanda Spielman said that schools should take a more ‘optimistic’ approach to reopening.

The chief inspector of schools said: “I would like to hear a much more optimistic approach, it should be about what we can do, not what we can’t do.”

The comments sparked a debate between those who wished to echo Mrs Spielman’s sentiments and those defending the profession.

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Tim Edwards-Grundy, head at Blake CE Primary in Cogges, has fiercely defended his staff.

He said: “I felt the comments needed answering having listened to the interview and seen some of the reaction from it.

“The comments were discussed in the staffroom and it was rather disheartening.

“It’s potentially very damaging to see some of the comments being spread around online.

Oxford Mail:

“Each staff member at the school has been willing to go above and beyond at every point.

“They lack neither optimism, nor a ‘can do’ attitude, the only thing they lack is a thank you.”

Mr Edwards-Grundy said he heard the comments with ‘dismay, a heavy heart and no small amount of anger and righteous indignation on behalf of the amazing staff team that I am privileged to lead’.

Mr Edwards-Grundy, who has been head at the Cogges Hill Road school for eight years, further backed his teaching staff.

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“When we were asked to close our school we did so well, making sure the sudden end of term was well marked and finished without alarm or distress being caused to our children,” he said.

“Within a week of being asked to close schools, my team of committed staff had organised meals for our most needy families and organised staffing rotas to ensure that from day one, the school remained open for our most vulnerable children and the children of key workers.”

Mr Edwards-Grundy said teachers have drawn up risk assessments, kept in touch with children and parents, logged and followed up safeguarding concerns, and worked through their holidays.

He added that when the announcement was made that schools would reopen to more pupils from June 1, staff created fresh rotas, cleaned, and created signage and plans for staggered drop offs and collection.

Oxford Mail:

“Throughout all this, my staff team has shown commitment, resilience, generosity and good humour, I could not be more proud of them, nor more honoured to lead them,” Mr Edwards-Grundy added.

“This staff team, from the cleaners to catering staff, admin team to teaching assistants, senior leaders to SENCO have without exception worked creatively and without hesitation to ensure that the needs of our school community have been met, that all can continue to learn, that our school is a safe place to learn and teach, that parents have been supported and our vulnerable children protected.

“Whatever the guidance that has been received, whatever the new demands placed on them, they have risen to it, adapted their practice and kept going.

“Staff are working with children from different year groups, who they do not know, with other members of staff who they are not used to working with and in classrooms that are not their own.

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“Not only this but having worked in school all day every day they are also continuing to provide online resources to the children in their own classes who are not in school.

“Within the trust and local partnership of schools, what has happened in my school has been replicated in primaries of every shape and size.”