One the county's most troubled schools is facing more turmoil after its head decided to quit.

Tony Garwood is leaving East Brighton College of Media and Arts after an education chief's critical letter about the school was kept secret from governors and staff for almost three months. Gary Spinks reports.

When East Brighton College of Media and Arts opened in September last year, there were high hopes the new school could lay the past to rest. It was the second reincarnation for a school closed for failing to raise educational standards and tackle problems with pupils' behaviour.

East Brighton College of Media and Arts emerged under the Government's Fresh Start initiative, designed to give another chance to under-achieving schools. With a new name, new governors, a mix of old and new staff and extra cash support, the college opened with optimism.

Principal Tony Garwood was appointed in 1998 when the school was still called Marina High. A former deputy head of Varndean School, he was given the task of carrying through the transformation from one school to another and had the good start he needed when Government inspectors found exam results had risen even before the new school was launched.

The college was expected to build on this and take responsibility for raising standards further and tackling problems with a minority of pupils and staff morale.

But in December, just three months after opening, the council's education department decided it was unhappy with its progress.

Education director David Hawker wrote a letter to the governing body highlighting serious concerns about pupil behaviour, attendance, high exclusion rates and staff morale. The letter set out key targets which it expected the school to meet. The main concerns were that the college had:

1. Failed to provide an individual educational plan for the most disruptive pupils, who were most at risk of being excluded.

2. Failed to put in place and carry out a strategy for dealing with problem pupils.

3. A pupil attendance rate of 80 per cent, which was below an 85 per cent target.

4. A high exclusion rate, which required more work to tackle the problem.

5. High staff turnover and no formal induction programme for new teachers.

The letter was sent to the board of governors' chairman, Councillor Frieda Warman-Brown who is also Brighton and Hove Council's executive councillor, for education. After discussion, the pair decided not to reveal the letter's contents to other governors, teachers or parents to prevent damage to flagging morale.

The first other governors knew of the letter or its contents was at a scheduled board meeting last month, almost three months after it was sent.

The official list of board members was: Derek Bown, the new chairman; Linda Balameh; Christopher Barron; Theresa Clark; Simon Fanshawe; Tony Garwood; Frederick Hammond; Mark Ireland; Mo Marsh; Helen Poole; Jacqueline Quinn; Jacky Rossall; Charlie Sutton; Chris Tate; Martyn Waller; Bill Whitehead; Elsa Ward; Shaun Crowley; Gaia Franklin and the outgoing Frieda Warman-Brown.

Teacher representatives on the governing body alerted classroom colleagues the next day and the news spread like wildfire. During the last week there has been an emergency staff meeting, a special governors' meeting and a meeting between unions and the council to discuss the issue.

Yesterday Mr Garwood announced his resignation. Coun Warman-Brown quit as chairman of governors earlier this month. Mr Garwood wrote to all parents to explain his decision to leave at the end of the summer term.

In his letter he said there had been positive progress under his leadership and the foundations had been laid for a new curriculum with "a clear vision for staff". In a statement, he said: "In time this will deliver the desired academic improvements and it is my judgement that the college will be best served by appointing a new principal whose skills match closely the key tasks ahead."

His letter highlighted three key tasks which needed addressing: to ensure a calm learning environment for pupils, high attendance levels and building strong support amongst the parents and potential parents of the college.

Yesterday Coun Warman-Brown denied her resignation was anything to do with Mr Hawker's letter but pointed to her heavy workload as Brighton and Hove Council's executive councillor for education, saying she could not continue to do both.

She said: "I did not want to let the school down or give up my input but it has had to happen. Concerning the letter, the head felt teachers had a lot of pressure on and that it was better to manage it. I concurred with this. The governors have since seen the letter."

Mr Garwood's resignation has shocked the school. Governors support his efforts but many are unhappy the letter was kept secret for so long. Parent governor Lin Belameh, who has a son at the school, said: "We hadn't heard about the letter until it was on the agenda at last month's governors' meeting.

"We should have been notified in December and people were generally unhappy that didn't happen. Mr Garwood's resignation came as a complete shock. He has tried his best. The school has only been open since September yet some people were expecting miracles."

Teachers were angry they were not shown the letter because they have a key role in delivering the targets it contains. A Brighton and Hove National Union of Teachers spokesman said: "Any time a school is set clear targets there should be consultation with staff about how those are to be achieved.

"The head's resignation is regrettable and a symptom of a school under great pressure for the Fresh Start initiative. The council, governing body and school management must now take action to support staff in promoting good behaviour and a positive and safe working atmosphere."

The council has brought in a trouble-shooting consultant to investigate the way it is operating and make recommendations on steps needed to deliver improvements.

Brighton and Hove's education director David Hawker said: "The council, as local education authority, has a duty to monitor education provided in schools. Where we express concerns we expect to see changes."

He said up to 30 pupils out of a total of more than 600 were considered disruptive.

Conservative opposition spokesman for education, Coun Vanessa Brown, called for the issue to be considered by the council's scrutiny board for culture and lifelong learning, which meets tonight.

Mr Garwood's resignation six months after the college opened is a blow for the Government's Fresh Start initiative. Success is still the school's target but without rapid improvements the school's future will remain uncertain.

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