English School head accuses board of pressuring him over admission

The headteacher of The English School, Stuart Walker, has accused members of the school’s board of governors of attempting to intimidate him into admitting a student who had failed the entrance exams. The claim has sparked outrage among parents and students, who are now demanding the board’s resignation.

In a letter sent to the board, Walker detailed an incident in which he was allegedly pressured by four board members, including the chair, Ioanna Demetriou, who also serves as a senior government lawyer. According to Walker, the student in question is the child of one of the board members and did not meet the required grade for admission.

Walker stated that he was summoned to a meeting in the chair’s office, where he faced repeated demands to admit the student despite the failed exam. He explained that doing so would undermine the integrity of the admission process and insisted that he could not comply.

However, he claimed the pressure continued for over an hour, leading him to leave the meeting saying, “Do whatever you want.” He later reconsidered and informed the board that he would not approve the admission, citing concerns over the school’s reputation and fairness.

The allegations have caused significant unrest among parents and students. Many have sent letters to the board, demanding accountability and calling for resignations. In their statements, they expressed concerns that the school’s integrity was at risk, with one letter stating: 

“The English School has a long-standing reputation for ethics and fairness and any attempt to manipulate the admissions process is unacceptable.”

The controversy intensified with the revelation that Walker was placed on leave in January, with a new headteacher, Nicholas Eatough, set to take over from a school in Chile. Walker’s abrupt removal, less than two years into his tenure, has raised questions about whether his stance on the admission issue played a role in the decision.

The board chair, Demetriou, has denied any wrongdoing, issuing a statement rejecting claims of coercion. She asserted that discussions about admissions were conducted in good faith and had no impact on exam results. She also condemned the leaking of internal correspondence, stating that it had been misrepresented in the media.

Despite these denials, the backlash continues, with students joining the protest against the board. Many have taken to social media, calling for transparency and an investigation into the allegations.