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Croydon's education chief leaves by "mutual consent"

1:04pm Thursday 6th March 2008

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The director of Croydon's education service is set to leave his role at Croydon Council following a catalogue of disturbing incidents at the borough's schools.

Peter Wylie, the current director of children, young people and learners at Croydon Council, is understood to be taking early retirement by mutual agreement.

"We will miss Peter and his immense knowledge and experience. However, we also believe that it is time for a change."

Jon Rouse, chief executive of Croydon Council

It follows a pupil being stabbed in the head with a pair of scissors last week at Edenham High School.

The attack left pupils horrified and came weeks after five teenagers were questioned about a sex attack which was filmed in the grounds of another school.

And earlier this year a teacher at Selsdon High walked out in the middle of a lesson after being unable to control the children.

Chief executive of the council, Jon Rouse, said: "We will miss Peter and his immense knowledge and experience. However, we also believe that it is time for a change.

"The challenges that we will face over the next five years will require a different skills set involving management of a large capital works programme as well as an emphasis on intensive school improvement."

Peter has been a director at the council since 2003 but a new director of education will now be sought.

His final task in his present role will be to complete the first stage of the current secondary schools review.

Peter said: "While I am sad to be leaving Croydon I also know it is the right time to go. Through the secondary schools review I have brought the service to the point where it is ready to make some difficult but necessary choices about educational provision in the borough.

"The authority now needs a director with a different set of skills and experience to deliver that programme of change through the Building Schools for the Future programme."

Cabinet member for education, Councillor Maria Gatland, said: "I would like to place on record this administration's gratitude to Peter for his dedication to the young people of the borough over the last few years.

"He has a deep knowledge of young people's needs and how to organise services to meet those needs. We wish him all the best in his retirement and in whatever he decides to do next."

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Your Say YourCroydon Guardian

Bob, Croydon says...
3:32pm Thu 6 Mar 08

"Peter Wylie, the current director of children, young people and learners at Croydon Council, is understood to be taking early retirement by mutual agreement."

The end of a sinecure.

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Tired Teacher, Shirley, Croydon says...
2:35am Fri 7 Mar 08

Well,let's hope the new appointment will lead to a policy that means Croydon's large majority of excellent children and hard-pressed teachers can get their work done without disruption or fear of their lives.

There are way too many young people in the borough who have more than demonstrated they need to be handled by highly specialized professionals in a setting RIGHT AWAY from a conventional school. Whether for the mortal safety of the innocent majority or for their own sakes, or both.

So let's see an end to the 'carousel' of Managed Moving for children who cannot settle at school and provide something completely different and specialised for them. THEY need the right kind of help and the rest of us need a school environment where we can work, learn and thrive.

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Croyboy, says...
8:40am Fri 7 Mar 08

Tired Teacher wrote of:
Croydon's large majority of excellent children

The majority of school kids I see on the bus and tram act like they should be in a zoo! ...But perhaps that's were one might find the "highly specialized professionals" you refer too.
As for placing them " RIGHT AWAY from a conventional school", I think you understate the solution: how about RIGHT AWAY from this country?

No wonder you're "tired"; I don't envy your task.

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Peasoup, Croydon says...
12:10pm Sat 8 Mar 08

Unfortunately, we are predisposed as humans to focus our attention on the negative rather than the positive. Do you actively look around on the tram for those young people who are behaving in a socially acceptable manner? Is every journey you take disrupted by a teenager acting up? I know I don't; my attention is only usually drawn to other passengers when they draw attention to themselves. Yes - this is often young people but not always. Young people are far more likely to make mistakes; they are still learning. I agree with "tired" the majority of young people I come into contact with are not 'animals'. Bellfield, Huntley, Wright and Dixie - they've all got something in common. Should I judge all white men by their behaviour?

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Kes, Upper Norwood says...
5:15pm Sat 8 Mar 08

Peasoup- try getting onto a bus on Beulah Hill, any afternoon round about 3pm, Mon-Fri! But then, I blame Livingstone and his kids' free bus travel for that. No wonder we are second only to the USA on childhood obesity rates. Kids need exercise!

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Rob Maxfield, Addiscombe says...
9:11pm Sat 8 Mar 08

Peasoup go and eat your soup you dilluded idiot. Theres always one like you that crawls out of the woodwork. The state of what;s going on is undisputedly and chronically so bad that it has got to the point of being completley disgusting. Try sticking up for old people and get out of your self-interest mentality - you are something to be ashamed of.

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Croyboy, says...
8:56am Sun 9 Mar 08

Peasoup wrote:
...we are predisposed as humans to focus our attention on the negative rather than the positive.

Not necessarily, but please feel free to speak for yourself.

Do you actively look around on the tram for those young people who are behaving in a socially acceptable manner?

No. "Looking around on the tram" at any "young people" would involve inviting confrontation.

Is every journey you take disrupted by a teenager acting up?

No, I assiduously avoid zoo-times if at all possible.

Young people are far more likely to make mistakes; they are still learning.

Agreed in part: they are more likely to make mistakes, but I fear they are not learning.

Should I judge all white men by their behaviour?

"white"?
...I'm afraid you'll have to explain this non sequitur.


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Concerned of Croydon, Croydon says...
2:05pm Mon 10 Mar 08

It will be sad to see Peter to go. The behaviour of Croydon's children is everybody’s responsibility! When children are permanently excluded they should not be sent to another school where they can re-offend. Croydon council needs to address this issue and provide alternative non-mainstream schooling for these youngsters. Why should other hardworking, sensible and responsible learners suffer because of the detrimental actions of others? Why are schools seen as the panacea to all of the world’s evils? Parents, the school community, the elected council, government and children themselves need to begin to take more responsibility for irresponsible behaviour!

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., says...
9:35pm Mon 10 Mar 08

is understood to be taking early retirement by mutual agreement.
Most people just get the sack and if people knew how much of their community charge went into council "workers" pensions there would be riots on the streets , edit that.. last time people complained about council tax they got baton charged by the police.

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Retired: Peter Wylie Peter Wylie: "sad to be leaving"

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