The parents of an 11-year-old boy who died after an asthma attack in school were not told five members of staff had been suspended over the tragedy.
Karen and Paul Linton only found out that headteacher Evelyn Leslie and Jan Ford – the teacher who left their son Sam sitting in a corridor after he became unwell – were not working at Offerton High in Stockport when we told them.
Yesterday, we revealed that Mrs Leslie, Mrs Ford and three support staff had been suspended during a school and council investigation.
The support staff are Pamela Banstead, Janet Bouckley and Deborah Bouckley and all worked in student services where sick children were referred for basic first aid.
School bosses stress the suspensions do not imply any wrongdoing. The move follows an inquest jury ruling that a catalogue of failures and neglect had ‘significantly contributed’ to Sam’s death.
The school has sent letters to families of pupils informing them of the investigation and suspensions. But Mr and Mrs Linton did not receive one and they did not receive any other form of notification.
Stockport council has refused to name the five members of staff involved.
The couple say the school needs to be more open about the probe. Mrs Linton, 43, of Dalby Grove, Offerton, said: “Nobody from the school or council has contacted us.
“They shouldn’t be suspended, they should be sacked. This is too little, too late. This all should have been done two years ago and maybe we could have had some closure, instead this is just dragging on and it feels like we’re reliving Sam’s death over and over again.
“They have had more than enough opportunity to do investigations and make changes – why are they only doing this now?”
Stockport council officials considered carrying out a serious case review into Sam’s death three times – but decided it did not meet the criteria required.
Instead, Stockport council decided to hold an internal ‘management review’ – the results of which have been kept private.
Jonathan Betts, partner at the Irwin Mitchell law firm in Manchester, who is representing the family, said: “This is nothing less than an insult to a grieving family desperate to see that their son’s death will be the last time a child is left to suffer like Sam was.
“What is desperately needed is simple, clear advice to teachers and schools on how to keep every child suffering from asthma safe in school.”
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More good news for the family.
I'm sure Boxbag and Sensible probably think that it has nothing to do with the family anyway and why the hell should they be told. They're only Sam's mum and dad.
The school and the council have behaved in a despicable fashion throughout this incident.
Why would we expect them to change now?
All those morons who have been making comments along the lines of “Lessons have been learnt and we should move on rather than have a witch-hunt” take note
LESSONS ARE NOT BEING LEARNT
this internal management review..stockport council have held..the results that have been kept private...surely this info can be obtained at any time using the ..the freedom of information act???
lets find out how incompetent the council and school really are...as most councils and schools are when it comes to looking after the health,safety and wellbeing of the pupils.
Internal management review?
The emergency services numbers are 999, 112 and 911 all the numbers can fit on a stamp. Person turning blue, call an AMBULANCE, dont need a review to decide that.
I have been following this case carefully since I first heard about it in the Nationals and I immediately thought to myself, why haven't there people been sacked?! I just don't understand it. What parent would want these teachers to be in charge of their children after this?
It just goes to show that once again parents need more responsibility when it comes to the child's education. The Jury Team http://juryteam.org suggest that parents should be able to opt out of local authority control (if 55% of parents agree). If parents were able to opt out of local authority control, then they will have more control over who is teaching their children http://www.juryteam.org/p09-school-opt-out.php . Furthermore parents would be able to decide how teachers should be disciplined if they were to neglect children.
watching this on last nites local news programs, I am gobsmacked! sorry butyou dont need training to see a young boy in distrees and ring 999. I hope the parents seek manslaughter charges against the school for its neglect.
Why is there always long winded reviews of procedures to try and cover up after these incedients.
This should not of happened?
ABSOLUTELY DISGRACEFUL. Those who failed to protect Sam whilst he was in their care should be sacked. I am a secondary school teacher in a large Manchester school, and as far as I know we have no policy for specific ilnesses. Though we are made aware of pupils with life threatening ilnesses. The staff involved should have used thier common sense. Did anybody call a first Aider? And if so, why was an ambulance not called immediately? Yes teachers are busy... I work in a school of 1500 pupils, but some times you must prioritise. And in this case the priority should have been Sam. Sorry to Sam's family... from a teacher who does care.
Common sense should have kicked in, Sam should have been monitored and not left alone. Once his inhaler was observed not to be having an effect NHS direct should have been called (they could also have been called straight away) and they would have recommended an ambulance be called.
NO EXCUSES FOR WHAT HAPPENED, IT SHOULDN'T HAVE HAPPENED!!
My sister fainted at school, banged her face and head leading to a black eye and fractured skull and we too were not called. Luckily for us there were no complications and she is well. I could not think about having to deal with the loss of my sister in those circumstances and my heart goes out to Sams' parents and i hope they get justice and make a difference so that he didn't die in vain.
Love and best wishes from Of Denton, Tameside.
They should be sacked, leaving that poor lad to suffer. They're a disgrace, and this whole episode stinks. Good luck to Mr. and Mrs. Linton, condolences to you both.
To be honest, I'm glad that Jan Ford is no longer the sole public scapegoat for the way this little boy was treated. It was about time they were all named. If he was sat in a corridor then there would have been plenty more people walk past him and they are all to blame, not just her
I'm a past pupil of the school and I'm not sticking up for anyone, but Jan Ford is a fine teacher and a caring person from MY experience. It's a horrible, horrific situation for everyone involved and especially (obviously) Sam's parents.
I left a comment to this tune on the Mail Online website but it was never posted... I wonder why?
The school and the council have behaved in a despicable fashion throughout this incident. Why would we expect them to change now?
All those morons who have been making comments along the lines of “Lessons have been learnt and we should move on rather than have a witch-hunt” take note
LESSONS ARE NOT BEING LEARNT
d1v1s1onby0, Wigan
25/03/2010
How can you say "lessons have not been learned".
This tragic event happened over two years ago, there has not, to my knowledge, been anything like a similar occurance at this school so=ince that time, so " lessons may well have been learnes".
And i find your addessing of other posters who do not agree with your rationale as "morons" deeply offensive.
the staff responsible plus anyone in chain of command should be held to account of involuntary manslaughter even without the health and safety regulations.They did not a modicum of basic care or an attitude to look after children as required ,asthma is not an unknown affliction. if i were the parents i would persue the individuals and governors, responsible in the law courts not for any Monterey gain but legal reconicion of the neglect and a punishment that would make others reponcilnble for our children be very sure that they will held to account in situations asthis
ian sutherland
Hoaward Stansfield - how do you know that lessons have been learnt? How would you know that? Just because another child has not died does not mean that everything is ok now. It just means that another child has not been in the same serious situation as Sam, yet. (as far as we know).
Sam died over 2 years ago, how do you know more children have not been put at risk and we just haven't heard about it?
It would be helpful if you thought through what you were going to say before you posted on here.
Howard Stansfield at 18:29, it may well be over two years ago when this happened. Does that lessen the grief of Sam's parents? As for attempting to highlight, "lessons have been learnt". No they haven't, because this was a lesson that could and should have been avoided. You're judging in hindsight. There was no excuse.
Terribly tragic. But this seems to be a witch hunt and judgement by News paper. Most have not the facts, but they want revenge, for what?
The one person who can comment is Claire S, probaly the only person who went to the school and actually knows the teachers involved.
Howard Stansfield
in addition to the other (Excellent) replies here,
The school and the council started down a road of covering their backsides, keeping their card close to their chests and showing no regard for Sams' Mum and Dad.
THIS STORY would indicate that nothing has changed.
As others have stated, the fact that no-one else has died in the last 2 years is nothing to crow about and does not indicate that anything has been learnt.
Barry Thornton - it is not revenge the parents should have, it is justice. And, how the hell can you ask "for what"...errr......the needless, pointless and heartbreaking death of their little boy, maybe????
Okay, people read the "reported" news and then start a witch hunt! Yes what has happened is a terrible tragedy and should never have happened.
Any death involving a child is almost certainly going to make people reaction especially when not all the facts are reported!
Where mistakes made, Yes, but the news hasnt reported isnt the whole story!
During the inquest it was heard that staff saw Sam have what they beilved to be 3 separate attacks and he seemed to recover,said he was ok and then went on his way. The medical doctor said it was one prolonged attack.
How are teachers to know the difference? They are teachers not medical doctors.
The news also reports he was left alone in a corridor for hours to die. This cannot be true as again from the inquest Sam went to lesson etc. From the time he left the classroom at the end of the school day and his mother turning up was not hours.
The people who report the news do just that, only they select the bits that will sell papers etc.
I noticed the school and Stockport Authority have refused to comment except for the odd statement being given. All the "news" being reported is from one side including video clip of Sam's last birthday how is this fair and balanced reporting?
It is a terrible shame that it should take a tradegy like this for ALL schools to look at how they deal with medical issues.
Let us hope that the correct action is taken from this investigation and not take as a result of the media frenzy and persuing mob wanting witch hunt.
John Smith - doesn't matter how many weak and feeble arguements you and others come up with. The death of this child will NEVER be justified.
how many of there children have asthma? or any other illness i have been led to beleive at least one of them have how would they have acted? if that was there child
John Smith at 12:48, you complain about unfair and unbalanced reporting, from whom? I commend the MEN for a FAIR and BALANCED report, you won't get much from Stockport council, because they are not saying much and how can they? So your argument is pretty much invalid.
A mistake John Smith is sending a sick child to the corridoor. Negligence is not going with them.
manslaughter charges must be considered,the staff including this woman were made aware of the protercols regarding this kind of incident by the school nurse but chose to ignore her.what could be so important for a R.E TEACHER that she could not help a child in her care,her subject matter hasnt really changed for 2000 years.She forgot its was the child that was important and allowed her own pompous attitude to spoil her judgement.Any money she is still being paid should be stopped and be used to ensure her kind of attitude does not cost a family so much ever again.My thoughts are with the family and i just wish something was done to spare them their pain....
This is a very sad story indeed BUT can you really think that the teacher would say what has been put in the paper I DONT THINK SO.the teacher is a good kind person and i cannot believe that what been put in the paper to be true.papers twist there words everyone knows that.....
my daughter attends that school and she thinks very highly of thhe teacher....
back stabbers - the teachers words have been taken from the inquest transcript. Are you saying that the court employee who recorded the hearing is lying also?
Try again. These excuses are now getting to be just laughable.