Ex-judge checks high school bullying claims

By ELIZABETH BINNING

A week-long internal investigation into claims of staff bullying at Cambridge High School is to begin next week.

Retired chief district court judge Dame Augusta Wallace will chair the investigation, which has been prompted by allegations widely publicised in recent weeks.

Dame Augusta will work alongside the school's occupational safety and health committee, which was formed at the beginning of this year.

The Qualifications Authority this week completed a three-day investigation into allegations of exam manipulation at the school.

Preliminary findings were presented to the school on Thursday.

They included praise for the range of choices available to students but criticism of several other aspects of the school's assessment policy including the philosophy of the Achievement Recovery programme.

The school is also to be reviewed by the Education Review Office next month and may face investigation by the Auditor-General over a possible conflict of interest between principal Alison Annan and a private international college.

It is understood that is Cambridge International College, of which Mrs Annan if also principal.