LOCAL MP Michelle Donelan has met with representatives of The White Horse Federation, the body that manages Melksham Oak School, to discuss complaints raised by parents, including concerns about the recent changes to the school management team.
The MP says she has been contacted by parents with several concerns, including the school’s handling of bullying, their SEND provision, staff shortages, and poor communication with parents.
Changes to the management of the school have recently been announced. After serving one year at the school, headteacher Haris Hussain will be replaced in September. David Cooper, who is currently headteacher at Devizes School, will oversee both schools from September. The White Horse Federation says that he will be an executive head, rather than a conventional headteacher, with a new associate headteacher in Melksham, who will be hired by September.
The changes follow months of complaints from parents about problems at the secondary school which, they said, were not being addressed. Then last month the school came under further criticism when all the school’s governors were dismissed by email and replaced with an Interim Academy Board, a small group of governors.
Michelle Donelan MP, told Melksham News, “Several residents have approached me with concerns regarding Melksham Oak. I requested an urgent meeting with the representatives from White Horse Federation. I separately visited Devizes school to meet with David Cooper one-to-one. David has been appointed the new executive head of both schools.
“I recognise the degree of concern and will continue to monitor this and amplify your voices to the school.
“It is important that the federation work to rebuild trust in the community. The new headteacher has a strong track record of tackling similar issues head on in Devizes and will be supported by a new associate head in Melksham. I have been assured that communications and updates to parents will be prioritised and I would urge parents and the wider community to engage with the school as they work to improve. Residents can also come to me at any time.”
