Angry: Kamal Hussain (left), from Oldham, was furious that his children's school shut up shop for a wedding. Right, St Hilda's head teacher Gillian Pursey, who said the school closure was above board
Teachers off school for training are caught at wedding: Head accused of lying in letter to parents
When father-of-two Kamal Hussain received a letter from school saying classes would be ending early for staff development, he duly arranged for his children to have the afternoon off.
But he became suspicious when he spotted three teachers in smart clothing driving past him when they were meant to be at school for the ?inset? (which stands for ?in-service training?) afternoon.
Calling in at the deserted school, he was told by a cleaner that the head and teachers had gone to a colleague?s wedding.
A furious Mr Hussain then drove to the wedding venue and confronted the head, who he says was sitting with 23 of her staff.
Mr Hussain yesterday lambasted head Gillian Pursey, for sending a ?blatant lie? in an official letter to parents. He said: ?I was just so angry and furious. I teach my children not to lie ? what sort of example does that set?
?I?ve lost my trust and confidence in them and I?m going to look to move my children elsewhere.?
He called for an inquiry into the matter, saying pupils had lost hundreds of hours of teaching between them.
Shut: St Hilda's Primary School, in Oldham, which closed so staff could go to a wedding
A furious Mr Hussain then drove to the wedding venue and confronted the head, who he says was sitting with 23 of her staff.
Mr Hussain yesterday lambasted head Gillian Pursey, for sending a ?blatant lie? in an official letter to parents. He said: ?I was just so angry and furious. I teach my children not to lie ? what sort of example does that set?
?I?ve lost my trust and confidence in them and I?m going to look to move my children elsewhere.?
He called for an inquiry into the matter, saying pupils had lost hundreds of hours of teaching between them.
Wedding centre: The Grand Venue, where the wedding was held
When he confronted Mrs Pursey at her table, she claimed the teachers had been given time off to ?do research?, adding she had the governors? permission.
Mr Hussain added: ?But to my understanding the governors don?t have the real authority to put in jeopardy the education of 500 pupils.?
Last night Mrs Pursey said: ?Staff were given that hour and a half of staff development time to research things for the school?s golden jubilee celebrations.
?They could do that research on or off site, and whenever they liked. Some decided to do it straight away, and others decided to do it after the wedding.
?It was all agreed with the school governors and is all above board.?
An Oldham Council spokesman said: ?This is an interim management issue for the school and no action will be taken.?
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