HEADTEACHER Denis Oliver has stressed the importance of respect following incidents where school staff have been verbally abused or insulted by parents.

Mr Oliver leads Holmes Chapel Comprehensive School, and said it was unacceptable that staff were made to feel frightened of dealing with certain parents or carers.

Speaking in the school’s newsletter, he said: “We pride ourselves on the excellent relationships and mutual respect we have with our parents and carers.”

He stressed that the support of parents and carers was crucial in the school being able to maintain the high standards it had set.

He said: “The staff appreciate how fortunate they are to work with such a supportive, engaged and interested parent body.

“However, over recent months there has been a real increase in the number of parents/carers not supporting the school’s decisions, ranging from minor incidents such as not supporting after-school detentions or uniform standards, to far more serious instances of school staff being verbally abused or insulted by parents/carers, sometimes in front of children.

“It is not acceptable that staff are made to feel vulnerable and in some cases frightened of dealing with certain parents/carers.”

Mr Oliver said the staff and governors worked hard to model positive behaviour and use of language so they could help the school’s young people develop into good citizens and role models themselves.

“The staff and governors of the school recognise that we are not perfect, we are human beings and we will make mistakes,” he said.

“We welcome the support of parents/carers to help us improve our practice, but this must be done in an appropriate way.

“We all need to work together and support each other for the benefit of your son or daughter.

“We have an agreed Respect Charter, which stresses the importance of respect, what it is and why it is important for all associated with the school to use it as a touchstone in our interactions with each other.”

The school is this week conducting its normal year group assemblies, with the themes of respect and basic expectations, and focusing on subjects including homework, behaviour out of lessons, punctuality and attendance and uniform.