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Just four complaints as head quit after assembly row
COMPLAINTS from just four parents over plans to scrap weekly assemblies for Muslim pupils led to a year-long row at a Sheffield primary school, The Star can reveal.
The dispute contributed to headteacher Julia Robinson initially taking sick leave from her post at Meersbrook Bank Primary and this term resigning altogether for personal reasons. Parents, staff and governors are still seeking a solution to the issue and are meeting to find a way forward this week.
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The assemblies in question were attended by around 30 Muslim pupils once a week at Meersbrook and covered topics arising from Muslim faith and culture.
YOUR SAY: Time to get real for 'mixed-up' parents
The gatherings were open to other youngsters too, with all-school assemblies held on four other days, and the practice had been in place for at least 10 years. But on taking up her post Mrs Robinson looked for a way to stop separate meetings.
Sonia Sharp, the city's executive director of children's services, said: "Julia wanted all of the children all of the time to feel they were part of Meersbrook Bank.
"It wasn't that she felt the separate meetings were a bad thing - but she wanted more community spirit and felt that the work going on in the gatherings could be brought into a wider arena."
Education chiefs accept the row led to a serious breakdown of relationships in the school, but say they are confident that its close-knit nature, history and heritage will see it through troubled times.
Ms Sharp said: "The move to look at the gatherings was incredibly well-intentioned by the head. She worked with parents to look at different ways forward but there was a difference of opinion and in the process relationships broke down. Mrs Robinson's resignation was accepted reluctantly by the governors for personal reasons. It was not connected with the assemblies issue.
"Now we are working with the lead headteacher and governors to find a way forward in the pupils' best interests."
In a statement Mrs Robinson said: "I understand the concerns of people on all sides of the debate around faith assemblies in schools and hope that this debate can be positive and constructive.
"My sincere wish is that children are given every opportunity to continue learning in an inclusive and welcoming environment."
Mrs Robinson's replacement, Pamela Smith, said the school now holds a "daily act of worship in keeping with legal requirements. "The school has done a lot of hard work to develop community relations."
Council leader Paul Scriven added: "The school acted with the best interests of all its pupils in mind but it is clear that this has caused misunderstanding and anxiety for some parents. The school is working closely with parents to decide what to do next and continue to foster strong relationships with all its parents."
But a former parent-governor, who asked not be named as he still has children at the school, said the local authority had completely mismanaged the situation.
He said: "Mrs Robinson sought advice from the local authority on how best to bring in the changes. She was advised to proceed with her plans for a collective act of worship.
"An RE advisor told us only in a small number of faith-based schools did such assemblies take place, and they were not common in Sheffield.
"Mrs Robinson consulted widely and had the support of most of the governing body. But opposition did come from one group of parents. They were a minority but it was a difficult issue to deal with as people were frightened to be branded racist.
"There is no one less racist than Julia, but she was branded as such and she received no support from the council."
The governor said he had resigned his position in frustration. He added: "The opposition was initially small and it did have a legitimate view and was a significant voice. I am not sure to what extent it adequately represented the views of all the Muslim parents.
"It proved to be disruptive and we were told that if the head did return, the Muslim children would not respect her authority."
Read our original story on the assembly dispute and the debate it sparked among readers
You can also share your opinion on today's article by adding a comment below.
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Weather for Sheffield
Thursday 23 February 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 8 C to 13 C
Wind Speed: 20 mph
Wind direction: West
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 2 C to 9 C
Wind Speed: 20 mph
Wind direction: West
