Vaughan Parents’ Action Group
Web: www.savethevaughan.com
Email: [email protected]
PRESS RELEASE
The Vaughan Parents' Action Group is very disappointed to note that the Archbishop of
Westminster, Vincent Nichols, has missed a fresh opportunity to appoint a current school
parent to the Governing Body of the Cardinal Vaughan Memorial School.
The group - set up to campaign for proper parental representation on the Governing Body and
the preservation of the character and ethos of the School - says the Archbishop's decision,
which they heard of today through the school's website, suggests he has no interest in healing
the public divisions which have arisen in the past year between the Westminster Diocese and
the School.
The appointment of Kate Griffin to a vacancy which arose suddenly because of the
unexpected resignation of Father Michael Johnston from the Governing Body, was made
yesterday (Sunday) according to an update on the website today (Monday). Mrs Griffin is a
former Headmistress of Greenford High School in West London and is a serving member of
the management committee of the Catholic Education Service.
Anna Brown, chairman of the VPAG, said: "We are just astonished that, at this juncture, the
Archbishop can have thought it right to ignore the very real and widespread concerns of
parents at the Vaughan that they are being excluded from the debate about the future
direction of the school. While we wish to make it clear that we have nothing against Mrs
Griffin, of whom we know little, we do also think it deeply insensitive of the Archbishop to
have filled this vacancy with a management committee member of the CES, a body which we
fear does not have the best interests of schools such as the Vaughan at heart".
The elected parent governors at Cardinal Vaughan are engaged in a bitter legal battle with the
Archbishop and the Diocese of Westminster - trustees of the school - over the Diocese's
refusal to appoint current parents as Foundation Governors. In the latest round of the row, the
parent governors applied last week for leave to take the case to the Supreme Court.
Cardinal Vaughan is one of the best performing comprehensive schools in the country and is
renowned for its excellence in music and sport.
16th May 2011
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Patti Fordyce, Professor Luke Gormally, Michael Gormally, Lord Grantley, Paul Johnson, Edward Leigh MP, Lord Lexden, Colin Mawby,
Charles Moore, Professor Judith Mossman, Cristina Odone, Professor Thomas Pink, Piers Paul Read, Dr John Martin Robinson,
Dr Richard Shephard, Anthony Speaight QC, Dr Ralph Townsend, Professor Mark Watson-Gandy, Ann Widdecombe