Exclusive:No charges proven against Sheffield primary school headteacher Maxine Stafford accused of bullying
The head was accused of unprofessional conduct, bullying, and putting staff in harm’s way
The former headteacher of a Sheffield primary school accused of bullying staff has been cleared of all charges at a misconduct hearing.
A professional conduct hearing concluded today (April 28) for Maxine Stafford, who served as the head of Abbey Lane Primary School for 10 years before stepping down in 2022.
Ms Stafford, who is a former branch secretary for the National Association of Headteachers union, was accused of bullying staff, “threatening” teachers with disciplinary action and failing to act on reports of alarming and violent behaviour by pupils.
This morning in an online hearing by the Teaching Regulation Agency and following six days of evidence, a panel cleared Ms Stafford and ruled there had been no unprofessional conduct.
Abbey Lane Primary School's current headteacher, Mr Tim Calcutt, was approached for comment and asked if Ms Stafford would be invited back.
Mr Calcutt said: "The matters being considered relate to events alleged to have taken place several years ago, at a time when the school was maintained by the local authority and prior to its conversion to academy status. Our focus remains on providing a safe, supportive and high‑quality education for our pupils today."
What were the charges?
Ms Stafford was accused of bullying staff members by snapping at them, shouting at them in meetings and “threatening” them with disciplinary hearings and capability reports.
It included evidence by one tearful member of staff who spoke about a "horrible meeting" where she and others were shouted at over teaching and attendance standards.
"That was a horrible meeting," they said. "Ms Stafford was very cross. She treated us like children and was shouting at us.
“We were not given the opportunity to say anything. She made her position very clear and asked us to leave when she said what she needed to say.
“I’ve never been treated like that.”
Other occasions included pointing a finger in a teacher’s face and snapping “don’t put me in that position again” following a parent’s complaint over whether their child could go a school trip.
One teacher suffering after a bereavement said they were was told: “You’re being paid £4,000 more than others, you’ve inherited some money, why don’t you think about going part time?”
Staff also claimed she failed to take action over reports of a child behaving indecently on school grounds, or intervening over the frequently violent behaviour of another pupil, reportedly ending with the child stabbing a teacher in the stomach with safety scissors and breaking their skin.
She also reportedly put staff in harm’s way when she punched and broke a window in 2015.
Ms Stafford admitted many of the incidents did take place, but were not unprofessional and required “context.”
She also “vehemently” denied the counts of threatening staff.
In effect, the TRA panel ruled in Ms Stafford’s favour on all accounts, and that the incidents were handled appropriately in her role as headteacher.
The former head’s solicitor, Gurpreet Rheel, said in her defence: “It is difficult to express just how sorry she is about any flaws in her conduct, and it brings great sadness and disappointment to her.
“She understands the possibility that she let some of her staff down by virtue of the allegations made against her.”
The full outcome report will is expected to be published within two weeks.
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