The head teacher of a Merseyside school embroiled in a row between staff and the council over coronavirus-related health and safety issues is "on leave".
Francine Foster had been the head teacher of Kingsway Primary School, on Ashville Road in Wallasey, since September 2007.
However today, just days before a planned strike among teachers, a spokesperson for Wirral Council confirmed the headteacher is "currently on leave" and it is understood that she has been replaced by Coleen Hibbard on an interim basis.
Yesterday, Bora Oktas, NEU Regional Officer, said the situation at the school had reached a “crisis point”.
Staff voted to strike last month, claiming they had to flush toilets themselves with buckets of water as there is no running water at the school, among many other serious health and safety issues.
Speaking to the ECHO at the time, Peter Middleman, NEU regional secretary, said the hand washing regime for students is less sophisticated than it should be.
Mr Middleman added that there were also issues with the management of Covid-19 bubbles and infection outbreaks at the Wallasey school.
However, yesterday a spokesperson for Wirral Council said: “Regarding the health and safety issues raised, council officers carried out a site visit on 30 June, 2020, and identified a faulty water valve which was affecting water pressure. This was rectified.
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“No further concerns have been reported to the council’s Health and Safety team, but we will continue to work closely with the school to ensure the wellbeing of staff and pupils.”
As it stands six days of strike action are planned, with the first set for Thursday, December 10, then December 15 and 16, as well as January 12, 13 and 14 after that.
But Wirral Council said today that progress has been made.
A spokesperson said: “The local authority has been involved in constructive discussions with Kingsway Primary School and the National Education Union (NEU).
“We’re confident that we are making progress to address the concerns raised by staff, and anticipate the imminent strike action will not take place.”
“The headteacher is currently on leave and an interim headteacher is in place.
"The council will continue working alongside the school’s governing body and the NEU to help resolve the situation in the best interests of staff and pupils.”
