GOVERNORS at St Luke's, the controversial Catholic sixth form college in Sidcup, have asked for an independent investigation into its leadership and management.

Its principal, Maria Williams, has been put on paid leave and her deputy has taken over as acting principal.

The move follows three reports critical of standards at the college and a vote of "no confidence" in Mrs Williams by college staff.

The college opened last year, to replace the sixth forms at Bexley's three Catholic secondary schools.

One, St Mary's and St Joseph's, is being closed to make way for the college in Chislehurst Road.

Its first Ofsted report, not yet published, describes the college as "inadequate" in contrast to the college's view it was now satisfactory.

A second internal report by Bexley Local Education Authority (LEA) after an "informal" inspection, highlighted poor attendance and punctuality, a lack of clear policies, a lack of proper guidance for staff and poor accommodation and equipment.

And a separate confidential LEA report flagging up urgent problems with infrastructure, systems and policies at St Luke's was given to Mrs Williams and the chairman of governors, Father Tim Finigan, in March.

Ofsted said the amount of good teaching at St Luke's was low and although it had improved, it was not good enough to allow students to catch up on their poor progress last year.

The college has been issued with a Notice to Improve in relation to its achievement and standards, overall quality of teaching and improvement planning.

Inspectors judged the college to be "performing significantly less well than it could be reasonably expected to".

Staff and students have voiced their own concerns about the running of St Luke's, accusing Mrs Williams of being more concerned about the religious aspects of the college than education.

They cited her decision to exclude pupils, including non-Catholics, for not attending mass, but not for regular lateness or unauthorised absences, and her insistence pupils cut lessons to attend pro-life lectures with films of abortions.

Staff also complained about money being spent on religious artefacts but not on college equipment.

NEWS SHOPPER COMMENT

FINALLY the governors at St Luke's Catholic sixth form college in Sidcup, have taken action to try and rescue it from disaster.

Principal Maria Williams is now on paid leave while the running of the college is investigated.

Three highly critical independent reports on the college, a vote of no confidence by staff in Mrs Williams and continual exposure of the college's problems in News Shopper have forced governors to act.

Most blame Mrs Williams for putting religion above education, and chairman of governors Father Tim Finigan for refusing to listen to the college's critics.

The absence of Mrs Williams cannot come soon enough for many parents, students and staff who started at the college with such high hopes last year.

But poor standards, disappointing exam results and an over-insistence on heavily religious activities, have angered many.

The college replaced the sixth forms of three high-achieving Catholic secondary schools in Bexley, where pupils were expected to do well in their A levels. Instead, disillusioned students have left the college in droves.

The move has come too late for St Luke's first students. One mother said her son, who had planned to go to university, had "lost interest in education" and was expecting poor exam results. She said: "I wish we had made him go somewhere else."

Another staunchly Catholic parent said her son would join a grammar school sixth form in September.

But it is a vindication for the students and staff who fought so hard to save the college. Let us hope the governors are brave enough to give St Luke's the fresh leadership and fresh start staff and students deserve.

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