Protesters demand teacher reinstatement at Westfield Community Technology College

9:27am Friday 5th February 2010 in News Photograph of the Author By Neil Skinner

Furious former students and parents held a noisy demonstration outside a Watford school this week to demand the reinstatement of a popular science teacher who was suspended after allegedly pushing a teenage student.

Martin Elvin, who has more than 15 years teaching experience, has been unable to return to work at Westfield Community Technology College since the incident which happened in June last year.

Despite being off for nearly eight months, the NASUWT union rep has not yet attended a disciplinary hearing.

Hertfordshire County Council – responsible for handling complaints in the first instance – says it cannot confirm or deny any details of the case and the school has refused to comment. Sources close to the case say the county council handed the matter back to the school in September, saying it could be dealt with internally.

On Wednesday, more than a dozen placard-wielding protesters gathered in a cold Croxley View, in a move designed to coincide with a visit by Ofsted inspectors.

Inside, students waved from windows and fire alarms sounded. It is not clear, however, whether the latter occurrence was related to the protest.

Protester and former pupil Chris Mundy is one of more than 500 people to sign up to a Facebook group in support of the teacher.

He said: “What is happening to Mr Elvin is totally wrong. He was the best teacher I ever had and made a huge difference to my life. A lot of people would agree with that.

“He is accused of pushing an unruly boy into a door when he was escorting him to a classroom but I can’t believe he would have done that on purpose.

“He is a teacher who really cares about his pupils. He helps them with college applications and job interviews. The school should be on its hands and knees begging for him to come back rather than forcing out the best teacher it has.”

Current students were not allowed to attend the demonstration but several vehicles full of teenagers – said to be sixth-formers – cheered and tooted horns in support.

Former pupil Dave Edwards, 28, added: “He was exceptional. He helped so many pupils overcome their problems, not just with science. It was him who pushed me in the right direction. It was him who helped with my college application and him who persuaded me to take education seriously. I now work as a linguist for a big company and a lot of that is because of Mr Elvin.”

Luke Edwards, 22, described him simply as “a legend.”

Although Mr Elvin is forbidden from speaking about the case, his family released a statement on Wednesday night.

It expressed “regret” for the disruption caused to the Ofsted inspection but thanked protesters for their support.

“We have also been moved to tears by the wonderful comments and messages which have flowed in today, this week and over the past months.

“Now it’s important that Westfield is back to normal on Thursday [yesterday] morning. Work with your teachers, it’s about your learning and education. It’s what Mr Elvin would want.”

The General Teaching Council (GTC), which rules on most serious complaints against teachers, said it has not been informed of any case against Mr Elvin.

It is understood, however, that he will attend a disciplinary hearing with school governors at the end of the month.

Comments(22)

ghosthorn says...
9:45am Fri 5 Feb 10

I WAS AT THE PROTEST & IT COULD OF AND SHOULD OF BEEN AVOIDED!!!
I CONTACTED A MEMBER OF SENIOR STAFF THE DAY BEFORE THE PROTEST AND ASKED FOR THEM TO COME TO THE FRONT GATES SO WE COULD HAND OVER A LETTER OF CONCERN TO OFSTED...

WE MADE IT CLEAR THAT IF WE WHERE GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TO MS AYLESBURY OF A MEMBER OF SENIOR STAFF THE PROTEST WOULD NOT GO AHEAD...MS AYLESBURY HAS FAILED OUR SCHOOL ONCE AGAIN...SHE HAS NO PEOPLE/MANAGEMENT SKILLS. WE WERE ALLOWED TO HAND THIS IN AT RECEPTION AND HERTFORDSHIRE POLICE ESCORTED ME TO THE RECEPTION.DID THIS LETTER GET TO MR JONES (HEAD INSPECTOR?) WE HAVE HAD NO RESPONSE AS YET!!!

FELLOW READERS...ARE YOUR CHILDREN AT WESTFIELD? OR ARE THE DUE TO START IN SEPTEMBER?

IF YOU WANT TO LEARN MORE PLEASE JOIN OUR FACEBOOK PAGES

'PROTEST FOR MR ELVIN (WESTFIELD SCHOOL)
&
'WHERE IS WESTFIELD'S TEACHER MR ELVIN???'
THESE GROUPS HAVE MORE DETAILS AND FEELINGS FROM THE STUDENTS OF WESTFIELD!!!

I'D ALSO URGE ALL STUDENTS & PARENTS TO CONTACT THE GOVERNORS & OFSTED WITH REGARD TO THIS UTTER SHAMBLES OF A SCHOOL.

THE KIDS HAVE SET ALARMS OFF 3 TIMES NOW...DOES THE SCHOOL HAVE NO CONTROL???

THE ARE PLENTY WORSE TEACHERS AT THAT SCHOOL!!! ONE TEACHER IS QUOTED AS TO HAVE SAID ONLY YESTERDAY TO A YOUNG LAD 'LOOK AT YOUR FACE YOU MAKE ME FEEL SICK'

ALSO ONE OF THE BOYS WHO WAS MADE TO TESTIFY AGAINST MR ELVIN IS NOW TRYING TO GET HIS STATEMENT CANCELLED AND THE SCHOOL ARE MAKING IT DIFFICULT FOR HIM...OH AND BY THE WAY THIS LAD HAS EXAMS VERY SOON!!!

GET BEHIND US AND SAVE OUR SCHOOL FROM MS AYLESBURY'S HIDDEN AGENDA TO OUST ANY TEACHER WHO EVER VOICES THERE CONCERNS....MANY THANKS

JUSTICE FOR MR ELVIN!!!!

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ghosthorn says...
9:49am Fri 5 Feb 10

P.S MOST OF THE INFORMATION WE HAVE LEARNT HAS COME FROM AN INSIDER...SO MS AYLESBURY NOT ALL OF YOUR STAFF ARE BEHIND YOU!!! MAYBE IT'S TIME TO GET OUT OF TOWN?

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jamesmckay says...
10:19am Fri 5 Feb 10

Maybe it is time to inform the General Teaching Council (GTC). Could they demand Westfield reinstate Mr Elvin.
Judging by the comments coming in for him, he is clearly missed.

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ontheup says...
10:20am Fri 5 Feb 10

very sad to hear about mr elvin... he was the best teacher... if he didnt give me the push in the right direction i wouldnt be enjoying my new career in the public services... westfield and the students are losing out on a great teacher who sets high standards for all students no matter what their ability... thanks mr elvin.... good luck x

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fix up look sharp says...
10:25am Fri 5 Feb 10

WHAT DO WE WANT?WE WANT ELVIN WHEN DO WE WANT HIM? NOW

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On the teachers side says...
10:28am Fri 5 Feb 10

What a wonderful teacher Mr Elvin is,stop messing a bout and let him come back get Aylesbury out.....

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distressed 1 says...
10:41am Fri 5 Feb 10

Oh im so worried my twins had to choose westfield as im in wd3 area and was worried my boys would not get local school,im even more worried now as it seems they can t control the kids already there please if any 1 should read this so i can stop application for westfield would be grateful. ps I dont know of Mr Elvin but by what ive read is a grate influence so good luck to him

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westfieldstudent says...
10:48am Fri 5 Feb 10

as a student from the sixth form i have not bin able to attend the protest and have not bin able to speak out and have my say anywhere else appart from here as i was told i would be permantly excluded even if i put a comment on the facebook group.. WHAT HAPPENED TO FREEDOM OF SPEACH...
mr elvin was a fantastic teacher who saw me through my younger years at westfield and always beleived in all the students not just the high acheiving students... with out him i would have never completed my course work and would have dropped out of school and not done my GCSE`s... lots of student are going to miss out on the help and support i got from him all because miss aylesbury can not see past her nose... on the day of the prostest the staff could not control the students that felt strongley about the matter, the students were trying to climb out of the windows to show their support as we were locked inside the school,
BRING BACK ELVIN...

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prison rules 2 says...
10:54am Fri 5 Feb 10

Im a student at westfield,and its more like a prison than a school i used to get to school early but now school has changed even walking a round the place keep 2 the left so rubbish double standereds for brainey kids my mate got excluded for fighting but the 1 who started it didnt and WE all know y where did they find Emma AYLESBURY PROBLY IN A FIELD send her back the offer moos r missing her WE LOVE YOU MR ELVIN

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crystalclear1 says...
11:16am Fri 5 Feb 10

As a former student and resident of croxley view i was amazed to see the support shown to mr elvin throught the day during the protest....I still have siblings at the school and hand on heart I can honestly say this school was on the up but seems to being dragged back down again due to the leadership....Mr Elvin went above and beyond his means to help students any way he could npot many about like him anymore.... westfield and the stduents are going to miss out so much without him there to show guidance and support expecially those that are not accademicaly bright... mr elvin would encourage students to go out and get what they want he arranged college placements for students so they wudn't end up on the scrap heap show me another teacher within westfield that gives up there time to help and support the students in this way.

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fix up look sharp says...
11:34am Fri 5 Feb 10

jamesmckay wrote:
Maybe it is time to inform the General Teaching Council (GTC). Could they demand Westfield reinstate Mr Elvin.
Judging by the comments coming in for him, he is clearly missed.
I agree they need to know

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cazsb says...
5:45pm Fri 5 Feb 10

Westfieldstudent states....
"as a student from the sixth form i have not bin able to attend the protest and have not bin able to speak out and have my say anywhere else appart from here as i was told i would be permantly excluded even if i put a comment on the facebook group".......

This is disgraceful. Are the students being rules by fear??

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CarelessWisper says...
5:47pm Fri 5 Feb 10

Well I think we can all agree, everyone wants Mr Elvin back and not everyone is very impressed with Ms Ayelsbury’s response to handling the situation. We have already seen a huge of response to this article issued earlier in the week, where many people including myself have posted their views:
http://www.watfordob
server.co.uk/news/48
87515.Protest_outsid
e_Watford_School_in_
support_of_suspended
_teacher/
I have heard that there is going to be a larger but peaceful protest next week by parents and ex pupils, so to all those who have posted comments, to all the people reading this article, show your support by joining the protest. Get your five minutes of fame as BBC and ITV news groups have been notified. If you can’t find the protest follow the chants: “Aylesbury out, Elvin Back!”

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neighbour says...
7:08pm Fri 5 Feb 10

Praise indeed for this teacher, who appears to be a well respected and liked man. One wonders exactly why he pushed this 'student' in the first place. Perhaps the 'student' had been behaving in a loutish, feral, rude and disruptive manner. Perish the thought! Surely not! A push? Shock! Horror! What gratuitous violence! OK, all the facts have not been stated, but reading between the lines, the only person to be threatened with exclusion should possibly be the 'student.' A teacher's lot is not a happy one, and it isn't improved by having to deal with loutish behaviour. Good luck to the man.

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earth_chylde says...
10:01am Sat 6 Feb 10

Lets get this ball rolling and get more help from the media .... http://news.bbc.co.u
k/1/hi/talking_point
/default.stm

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neighbour says...
6:11pm Sat 6 Feb 10

Ms/Mr Chylde (see above contributor.)

'Tis done. One more into the pot.

http://news.bbc.co.u

k/1/hi/talking_point

/default.stm

By the way, teachers are automatically suspended when any allegation of assault is made - it's the law. But, of course, a complaint has to be made. What kind of big-girl's blouse would do that?

Does anyone actually know the facts surrounding this case? The WO can't say too much - it's sub-judice.

Good luck.

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ghosthorn says...
6:40pm Sat 6 Feb 10

neighbour wrote:
Ms/Mr Chylde (see above contributor.)

'Tis done. One more into the pot.

http://news.bbc.co.u


k/1/hi/talking_point


/default.stm

By the way, teachers are automatically suspended when any allegation of assault is made - it's the law. But, of course, a complaint has to be made. What kind of big-girl's blouse would do that?

Does anyone actually know the facts surrounding this case? The WO can't say too much - it's sub-judice.

Good luck.
IN RESPONSE....YES I HAVE BEEN GIVEN THE FULL FACTS BY A TEACHER WHO IS STILL WORKING AT THE SCHOOL, THEY HAVE LEAKED THE INFO TO ME SINCE THEY LEARNED THAT I WAS TAKING A STAND...THERE IS A LOT MORE TO THIS...IT'S PURE DIRT...MS AYLESBURY IS LETTING HER PERSONAL DISLIKE FOR MR ELVIN RULE HER HEAD. IF I THOUGHT HE HAD DONE IT I WOULD NOT BE SUPPORTING HIM...HE IS INNOCENT

AYLESBURY SHOULD RESIGN...MORE PROTESTS WILL FOLLOW.

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cazsb says...
11:56am Sun 7 Feb 10

Ghosthorn says..


.IT'S PURE DIRT...MS AYLESBURY IS LETTING HER PERSONAL DISLIKE FOR MR ELVIN RULE HER HEAD. ....

Sounds as tho Ms Aylesbury is a bully and tries to control. Seems as though she is total jealous of Mr Elvin with his popularity.

Hope she gets the bullet, Mr Elvin comes back as head. It must be very difficult for staff and students at the moment.

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neighbour says...
6:45pm Sun 7 Feb 10

Well, according to my NUT buddy, it might have something to do with the fact that he's the Union Rep and someone's trying to get rid of him! Surely not! I mean, who would want to do that?

So Mr Elvin has been suspended, albeit on full pay, for the past six months, and the hearing's going to be at the end of this month. Quick work! No procrastination here on the part of the investigating officer, who would have be designated by the head-teacher.

Until more is known about this sad and sorry case, any more would be speculation.

In any event, what superlative financial management, what with him being paid when he's off, and that there's another teacher on full pay filling in for him.

And, more please on the nuts and bolts on this. What exactly happened? Like, was the alleged victim acting in a loutish and possibly agressive manner? How hard was the 'push'? Was he pushed out of the top floor window or down the stairs, or was he given a gentle shove to put him in his place?

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fix up look sharp says...
10:41pm Sun 7 Feb 10

Mr Elvin wasent suspened straight away thou sooooo we think thats a bit weird

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cazsb says...
2:41pm Mon 8 Feb 10

I do hope Mr Elvin has good reoresentation at the hearing. I take it Ms Aylesbury will be there. I think she's "headteacher govenor, as I found a list of govenors online, and her name is there.
For a guy who is a good and caring teacher, all this on the say-so of an unruly pupil just stinks. I feel teachers have it quite hard. They have to treat youngsters with kid gloves, scared of being reported.
I know things have changed but I was "slippered" many times at school for mucking around. Teachers used to wield authority, and used to dish out disipline.
I believe this is Ms Aylesbury first headship. She needs to treat her staff with decency and respect.

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auntyrainy says...
12:04pm Wed 10 Feb 10

I wish Mr Elvin all the very best of luck for the hearing. I am sure they will see sense and reinstate him immediately and hopefully they will sack the useless head (how on earth did she get the job). The parents and students hate her, they have lost all respect for her and she should go and give the job to Mr Elvin.
I had quite a few dealings with Mr Elvin and I always found him to be very fair, firm and kind with a dash of humour, always professional. I met the head once, what a mistake, up her own backside or what. The parents and students will vote her out eventually. All the best Mr Elvin, you will get your day.

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