Fury as headteacher takes two weeks off DURING term time - so he can go to Brazil to watch the World Cup
Ed McGovern (pictured), headteacher at Stafford Leys Primary
School, in Leicester, was allowed time off due to 'personal reasons',
but it later emerged he was in South America for the football
tournament. The decision has been criticised by one parent, who
complained of 'double standards'. A spokesman for the school said Mr
McGovern has never previously made a request for a leave of absence and
his attendance record has been 'exemplary.'
A primary school headteacher has taken
two weeks off work to travel to Brazil for the World Cup during term
time, it has been claimed.
Angry parents have criticised the decision after Ed McGovern, 55, was allowed to take unpaid leave from Stafford Leys Primary School, in Leicester, due to 'personal reasons.'
The school has not confirmed the reason for Mr McGovern's absence but parents found out he had gone to South America for the World Cup.
A spokesman for the school said Mr McGovern has never previously made a request for leave of absence and his attendance record has been 'exemplary.'
Father-of-two Carlton Skeats, 44, said: 'Considering parents face fines for taking their children out of school this just reeks of double standards. It doesn't send the right message at all.'
Zoe Gibbs, 28, whose two sons Harvey, six, and Oliver, eight, go to the school, said: 'They haven't told us anything really, it's a disgrace.
'But of course it has come out that he's gone to Brazil for the World Cup. If I were to take my son out of school I'm sure I'd be punished.
'When my son had tonsillitis he was off for two weeks and Mr McGovern wrote us a letter saying he had had too long off sick.
'If that's too long when you're genuinely ill then going on a jolly to Brazil isn't right.'
Another father, who did not want to be named, who has a daughter in Year 2 and a son in reception, said: 'I think it's a bit ridiculous, we weren't told anything until the decision had already been made.
'Surely we have a right to decide on whether the school our children go to is without a leader for two weeks?
'If I took two weeks off for the World Cup without consulting the people who run my business I'd be fired.'
Mr McGovern's request for time off was originally rejected by governors following a row when the headteacher of another Leicester school was allowed to take a month off in term time to get married,
The Sun has reported.
The decision however was overturned after the head appealed with the help of his union.
A school spokesman told MailOnline: 'Requests for leave of absence for personal reasons can be made by staff in line with our school policy.
'Our leave of absence policy states that the Governors “will endeavour to facilitate requests for leave” and “will wherever possible seek to achieve for our employees a balance between home, work and leisure as part of our commitment to being an employer of choice”.
'Our headteacher has led the school with distinction for the past ten years. During that time the school has improved from being judged by OFSTED as having serious weaknesses to our most recent inspection earlier this year which showed that all aspects were at least good.
'His attendance record over this period has been exemplary and he has never previously made a request for leave of absence.
'The request was for unpaid leave of absence for personal reasons which has been approved by the Governing body after careful consideration.
'We have made provision to ensure that during the period of this absence strong cover for leadership of the school is in place and standards of teaching and learning will remain high.'
Defending her son's decision, the headteacher's mother Shelia, 77, who lives in Birmingham, said: 'My son has put so much into education. Surely he deserves a break.
'Why shouldn't he go to Brazil, who knows what he will be able to teach the children when he returns.
'No one would make a fuss if he took time off to cut the lawn in his garden.'
His mother-in-law Mona Neil, 90, from Rotherham, South Yorkshire, said: 'I knew he was planning but I don't know what's just happened. I know he was thinking, hoping to go.'
Speaking outside the school gates, a mother-of-two who did not want to be named said: 'It doesn't bother me that he's taking time out of school as it's not affecting the children.'
She said letters had been sent to the parents to inform them Mr McGovern had taken leave for personal reasons.
'I was surprised because he's quite strict on the children being taken out of school but I've no concerns for my children and their education. It's a brilliant school and the deputy head is in place,' she said.
Another parent, who also did not want to be named, said she was not concerned about the headteacher taking the time off as it was unpaid.
She said: 'I haven't got a problem with this. It's unpaid leave and it's not affecting our children. What he does in his personal life is his business.
'Stafford Leys do not currently charge us for taking our children out of school during term time, it goes down as unauthorised absence.
'The two weeks he (Mr McGovern) has taken is unpaid leave. During that time there won't be any impact on our children's education. The deputy head is in place.
Mr McGovern, who lives with his wife Kathryn, 49, in the village of Countesthorpe, Leicestershire, is due back before the school breaks up on July 11.
Mrs McGovern, who is also a headteacher at a Leicestershire primary school, was unavailable for comment.
A National Association of Head Teachers spokesman said: 'Mr McGovern applied for an unpaid leave of absence and was granted the time off by his governing body after many years of distinguished service.
'We represented our member during the appeal as we would all members on personnel issues. Ultimately, the decision belongs to the governing body, which appears to have acted in line with its own policies and at no cost to the public purse.'
Susan Holmes, a governor at the school, said: 'I would love to be able to comment but all the board of governors were told not to say anything about it.
'I have since left the board over a disagreement I had with a policy, but I still can't say anything.'
A Department for Education spokesman said: 'It is the responsibility of the school’s governing body to take decisions on staffing and leave.'
Stafford Leys Primary School was built in 1966 and is situated in Leicester Forest East, five miles to the west of the city centre.
It has 518 boys and girls aged between four and ten on the roll and was rated 'good' by Ofsted in March this year.
Last week it was reported headteacher and football fan Mark Williams quit his job to travel to the World Cup because he would not miss 'the trip of a lifetime.'
The England and West Ham fan told governors at High Lawn Primary School, in Bolton, that he wanted to resign so he could go to the tournament.
They gave him two weeks off during term time to travel to Brazil and he is due to return in July for the remainder of the summer term before a new headteacher takes over in September.
Yesterday, meanwhile, it was reported a mother had declared she will risk a prison sentence for letting her son miss three days of school to attend her wedding.
Clare Whitelegg was furious her nine-year-old son's primary school refused her request for him to take time off lessons to watch her marry her police officer fiance Andy McLeary.
The school argued that the wedding did not warrant time off because it could not be classed as ‘exceptional circumstances’.
Parents can be punished if they take their children out of school outside holidays.
They can be fined £60 per child, which increases to £120 if it is not paid within 28 days.
Failure to pay can result in court action and in extreme cases a short prison term.
Do you know Ed McGovern or where he is in Brazil? If so contact MailOnline on 0203 615 1605 or e-mail james.rush@mailonline.co.uk.
Fury as headteacher takes two weeks off DURING term time - so he can go to Brazil to watch the World Cup
- Parent criticises 'double standards' after headteacher goes to Brazil
- Ed McGovern was reportedly allowed time off due to 'personal reasons'
- But parents were left angered when they found out he was in South America
- School has not confirmed the reason for Mr McGovern's absence
- Request for time off was originally rejected following row after headteacher of another Leicester school was allowed a month off to get married
- The decision was overturned however following an appeal by Mr McGovern
Ed McGovern, headteacher at Stafford Leys
Primary School, has taken two weeks off working during term time to
travel to Brazil, it has been claimed
Angry parents have criticised the decision after Ed McGovern, 55, was allowed to take unpaid leave from Stafford Leys Primary School, in Leicester, due to 'personal reasons.'
The school has not confirmed the reason for Mr McGovern's absence but parents found out he had gone to South America for the World Cup.
A spokesman for the school said Mr McGovern has never previously made a request for leave of absence and his attendance record has been 'exemplary.'
Father-of-two Carlton Skeats, 44, said: 'Considering parents face fines for taking their children out of school this just reeks of double standards. It doesn't send the right message at all.'
Zoe Gibbs, 28, whose two sons Harvey, six, and Oliver, eight, go to the school, said: 'They haven't told us anything really, it's a disgrace.
'But of course it has come out that he's gone to Brazil for the World Cup. If I were to take my son out of school I'm sure I'd be punished.
'When my son had tonsillitis he was off for two weeks and Mr McGovern wrote us a letter saying he had had too long off sick.
'If that's too long when you're genuinely ill then going on a jolly to Brazil isn't right.'
Another father, who did not want to be named, who has a daughter in Year 2 and a son in reception, said: 'I think it's a bit ridiculous, we weren't told anything until the decision had already been made.
'Surely we have a right to decide on whether the school our children go to is without a leader for two weeks?
A spokesman for the school (pictured), in
Leicester, said Mr McGovern has never previously made a request for
leave of absence and his attendance record has been 'exemplary'
Mr McGovern's request for time off was originally rejected by governors following a row when the headteacher of another Leicester school was allowed to take a month off in term time to get married,
The Sun has reported.
The decision however was overturned after the head appealed with the help of his union.
A school spokesman told MailOnline: 'Requests for leave of absence for personal reasons can be made by staff in line with our school policy.
'Our leave of absence policy states that the Governors “will endeavour to facilitate requests for leave” and “will wherever possible seek to achieve for our employees a balance between home, work and leisure as part of our commitment to being an employer of choice”.
'Our headteacher has led the school with distinction for the past ten years. During that time the school has improved from being judged by OFSTED as having serious weaknesses to our most recent inspection earlier this year which showed that all aspects were at least good.
The headteacher is understood to have taken time off school to travel to Brazil for the World Cup (file picture)
'The request was for unpaid leave of absence for personal reasons which has been approved by the Governing body after careful consideration.
'We have made provision to ensure that during the period of this absence strong cover for leadership of the school is in place and standards of teaching and learning will remain high.'
Last week it was reported headteacher and
football fan Mark Williams quit his job to travel to the World Cup
because he would not miss 'the trip of a lifetime'
Defending her son's decision, the headteacher's mother Shelia, 77, who lives in Birmingham, said: 'My son has put so much into education. Surely he deserves a break.
'Why shouldn't he go to Brazil, who knows what he will be able to teach the children when he returns.
'No one would make a fuss if he took time off to cut the lawn in his garden.'
His mother-in-law Mona Neil, 90, from Rotherham, South Yorkshire, said: 'I knew he was planning but I don't know what's just happened. I know he was thinking, hoping to go.'
Speaking outside the school gates, a mother-of-two who did not want to be named said: 'It doesn't bother me that he's taking time out of school as it's not affecting the children.'
She said letters had been sent to the parents to inform them Mr McGovern had taken leave for personal reasons.
'I was surprised because he's quite strict on the children being taken out of school but I've no concerns for my children and their education. It's a brilliant school and the deputy head is in place,' she said.
Another parent, who also did not want to be named, said she was not concerned about the headteacher taking the time off as it was unpaid.
She said: 'I haven't got a problem with this. It's unpaid leave and it's not affecting our children. What he does in his personal life is his business.
'Stafford Leys do not currently charge us for taking our children out of school during term time, it goes down as unauthorised absence.
'The two weeks he (Mr McGovern) has taken is unpaid leave. During that time there won't be any impact on our children's education. The deputy head is in place.
'Considering parents face fines for
taking their children out of school this just reeks of double standards.
It doesn't send the right message at all'
- Father-of-two Carlton Skeats
'If it is for football then that is his hobby. What's the problem? He's entitled to personal time off.'- Father-of-two Carlton Skeats
Mr McGovern, who lives with his wife Kathryn, 49, in the village of Countesthorpe, Leicestershire, is due back before the school breaks up on July 11.
Mrs McGovern, who is also a headteacher at a Leicestershire primary school, was unavailable for comment.
A National Association of Head Teachers spokesman said: 'Mr McGovern applied for an unpaid leave of absence and was granted the time off by his governing body after many years of distinguished service.
'We represented our member during the appeal as we would all members on personnel issues. Ultimately, the decision belongs to the governing body, which appears to have acted in line with its own policies and at no cost to the public purse.'
Susan Holmes, a governor at the school, said: 'I would love to be able to comment but all the board of governors were told not to say anything about it.
'I have since left the board over a disagreement I had with a policy, but I still can't say anything.'
A Department for Education spokesman said: 'It is the responsibility of the school’s governing body to take decisions on staffing and leave.'
Stafford Leys Primary School was built in 1966 and is situated in Leicester Forest East, five miles to the west of the city centre.
SCHOOL ABSENCES: THE RULES
Changes
to the law in September last year meant headteachers would only grant
pupils leave of absence during term time in 'exceptional circumstances'.
It is then upto the headteacher to decide how many days a pupil is allowed to be away from school if the leave is granted.
Parents who take their children out of school can be fined £60 per child, which increases to £120 if it is not paid within 28 days.
It is then upto the headteacher to decide how many days a pupil is allowed to be away from school if the leave is granted.
Parents who take their children out of school can be fined £60 per child, which increases to £120 if it is not paid within 28 days.
Last week it was reported headteacher and football fan Mark Williams quit his job to travel to the World Cup because he would not miss 'the trip of a lifetime.'
The England and West Ham fan told governors at High Lawn Primary School, in Bolton, that he wanted to resign so he could go to the tournament.
They gave him two weeks off during term time to travel to Brazil and he is due to return in July for the remainder of the summer term before a new headteacher takes over in September.
Yesterday, meanwhile, it was reported a mother had declared she will risk a prison sentence for letting her son miss three days of school to attend her wedding.
Clare Whitelegg was furious her nine-year-old son's primary school refused her request for him to take time off lessons to watch her marry her police officer fiance Andy McLeary.
The school argued that the wedding did not warrant time off because it could not be classed as ‘exceptional circumstances’.
Parents can be punished if they take their children out of school outside holidays.
They can be fined £60 per child, which increases to £120 if it is not paid within 28 days.
Failure to pay can result in court action and in extreme cases a short prison term.
Do you know Ed McGovern or where he is in Brazil? If so contact MailOnline on 0203 615 1605 or e-mail james.rush@mailonline.co.uk.
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