A SECONDARY school has launched an investigation into a number of ‘serious’ allegations made against some members of staff, including inappropriate posts on social media and drinking while on residential trips.

Essa Academy in Great Lever is taking the allegations, made anonymously, seriously and has drafted in an independent investigator to look into them.

Bolton Council is also working with the school.

In a two-page letter received by The Bolton News, which as been circulated to others, allegations have been made concerning comments on Facebook.

The posts are alleged to be about deporting those on a ‘watch list’.

The letter states: “This was after the events that took place in Manchester. Comments made in the post are extremely offensive and racial towards Muslims.”

The letter states that “this is a big concern” as the majority of students under the care of the member of staff alleged to have written the post are of a Muslim background.

The post, according to the letter writer, has since been removed.

The writer also claims Year Nine pupils were left to supervise Year Seven students ‘all night without any adult supervision’ on an overnight residential trip.

The letter states: “The dormitories for the staff and students are not in close proximity. The staff leading and supporting the trip were drinking in their areas.”

Allegations about members of staff drinking were made at another residential trip.

The Bolton News has decided not to name the members of staff at the centre of the allegations as the investigation, which was launched late last week, continues.

We have passed the letter we have received to the school in Great Lever and Bolton Council.

In a letter sent to parents, Andrew Cooper, chief executive of Essa Foundation Academies Trust, said: “As you may be aware, there are currently a number of serious allegations circulating against members of staff at the Essa Academy.

“These claims are being taken incredibly seriously and the board and I have engaged an independent investigator who is an expert in education and employment to investigate all the allegations.”

It adds: “We will not be able to update you further until the conclusion of the investigation when she presents her findings to the Trust.

“I would ask you not to jump to any conclusions at this stage, and to allow us to investigate these matters fully and fairly.”

In a statement to The Bolton News, Mr Cooper, said: “There are currently a number of allegations circulating against members of staff at the Essa Academy. These claims are being taken incredibly seriously.

“The welfare of the students is, of course, at the heart of all we do at the Essa Academy and that is why we are taking swift and appropriate action.”

A spokesman for Bolton Council said: “We are working to support Essa Academy Trust and ensure the allegations are investigated thoroughly.”

About Essa Academy

ESSA Academy was the first in the borough to be opened as a state-funded independent school.
It opened in 2009 to replace the poorly performing Hayward School and moved into a new £18m campus in 2011. Since it opened, the school has won international acclaim for its use of technology in the classroom. Children started using iPods in 2009 and now technology has become an essential resource in classrooms everywhere.
Andrew Cooper, a qualified history teacher, was appointed as CEO in September last year.
The academy currently has an interim principal, Patrick Ottley-O’Connor, with a nationally celebrated headteacher taking over in the new academic year.
Martin Knowles has gained recognition as being a “passionate and driven” educationalist and singled out for praise in the 2016 Annual Report by the Chief Inspector of Schools.