Hundred of Hoo head Kevin Mahon suspended
by Dan Bloom
dbloom@thekmgroup.co.uk
Another Medway school head teacher has been suspended in a
leadership crisis.
Kevin Mahon (pictured below) is under investigation for
“general management issues” at the Hundred of Hoo
Comprehensive.
He becomes the second Medway school chief to be suspended in
just three months.
Bishop of
Rochester Academy princpal Christopher
Sweetman resigned last month after walk-outs and violence
marred the Chatham school’s first year.
Mr Mahon became head of school at the Main Road comprehensive in
2009 after Ofsted inspectors placed it in special
measures.
He is second in command to Dr Gary Holden, who joined as
executive principal in 2009 and is also head at Sir Joseph
Williamson’s Mathematical School, Rochester.
The school was brought out of special measures in October and
leadership was graded 'good’.
Decisions to suspend a teacher are taken by a school’s governing
body. The chairman of both Hundred of Hoo and Bishop of Rochester
Academy schools’ governors is the same man – Dr Peter
Clough.
Hundred of Hoo staff refused to comment on the circumstances
surrounding Mr Mahon’s suspension, while parents said they had not
received any letters about the decision.
It is believed two parents recently complained to the
school claiming staff physically assaulted their children – one
during an exam.
Medway Council declined to comment on the assault claims.
A spokesman said: “We can confirm that Mr Kevin Mahon, the head
of school at the Hundred of Hoo School, has been suspended while an
investigation is held into general management issues.
“The school has ensured interim arrangements are in
place.”
Mr Mahon’s suspension comes as investigations continue into
allegations Hundred of Hoo media teacher Mark Spendley seduced two
ex-pupils.
The 35-year-old, of Queenborough, Isle of Sheppey, had his
police bail extended to August 18 this week.
He was arrested in March by officers investigating an alleged
abuse of position after two girls, now aged 17 and 19, claimed they
had affairs with him.
23/06/11
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