I AM writing on behalf of our members at Coln House School, who comprise at least two thirds of the entire teaching staff, with regards to the recent removal of all students from the school. 

We would like to be informed of the reasoning behind removing the pupils in such a dramatic fashion. 

I am calling on you, Cllr Mark Hawthorne, as the leader of the Gloucestershire County Council (GCC), and your fellow elected council members, to immediately instigate a full and thorough review of the circumstances around the withdrawal of all the students there to ensure that all legal processes have been correctly followed and to give us a solid assurance that the safeguarding issues that are being investigated are the true reason for this precipitate and unprecedented action and that they have not simply been used as a means of circumventing procedures to consult on the closure of the school due to concerns about its financial viability.

We believe that such a review will vindicate our members.

We wish to have a clear statement that goes some way towards the restoration of their professional reputations following the cloud over teaching staff left by the decision to remove the children in such a dramatic and sudden manner.

To the best of my knowledge no member of the teaching staff stands accused of any infringement of safeguarding regulations let alone of the seriousness to merit this action, yet their professional reputations have been seriously prejudiced by the suggestion that the wellbeing and safety of the students in their care required their immediate removal despite the detrimental effect this will have on these students, many of whom have attachment issues and all of whom have been classified as having serious emotional and behavioural difficulties.

JOHN PEMBERTHY