KEEP MS JO SHUTER AT KING SOLOMON

COMMENT BELOW WAS WRITTEN BY A SUPPLY TEACHER AT Jo Shuters old school

I imagine that the charges levelled at her are certainly the result of mistakes on her part, but I'm sure this was a far wider and more complex situation than meets the eye - no doubt a lack of systems and support, coupled with long-standing change-resistant critics. I'm baffled as to how the situation got so out of hand and it's a great shame in light of the enormous triumphs of Shuter.

I was a short-term supply teacher at QK who taught at that school a few months before and after Shuter was employed as Head. I found it a very challenging place to work as the school was in serious disarray in terms of student expectations, discipline and performance. To achieve far more than a slight improvement to the place, and to in fact raise it to an outstanding level, is of the utmost credit to her. To have been willing to take on that challenge is also to her credit, I'm sure that for the same salary, and with far more trappings, she could have nestled into a cushy school somewhere, without the enormous stress and struggle of working to improve QK.

I have enjoyed hearing about the amazing improvements to QK over the years, under the leadership of Shuter, and I hope that she will remain in educational leadership and continue to raise standards for teachers, students and parents; if not at King Solomon then another school lucky enough to have her.