THE head teacher and entire senior management team of an education unit for excluded and special needs pupils have been suspended.

The Northern Echo understands that executive head teacher Steve O’Gara and management at the Pathways School, which incorporates the Greystones Centre, in Grangetown, Middlesbrough, were suspended late last week (Wed or Thursday 28th or 29th).

The school and centre deal with pupils in Education Other Than In School (EOTAS) and pupils with complex needs, for Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council.

A full investigation is underway into “irregular management practices” – and it is understood there are no child welfare issues involved.

Councillor David Walsh, deputy leader of Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council, said: “The local authority has received allegations in relation to irregular management practices at EOTAS, Greystones and Pathways School.

“In consultation with the school governors and management committee the decision was taken to suspend the management team to enable an investigation by an independent officer to take place.

“The allegations will be subject to a full investigation however the suspension of the management team at this stage should not be taken as an indication that the allegations are true.

“An experienced special school head teacher has been appointed to take over responsibility for Pathways School whilst the investigation is ongoing. The authority is also currently in the process of appointing an Interim Headteacher for EOTAS.

“These temporary arrangements will continue until the investigation reaches its conclusion.”

Mr O’Gara, executive head teacher of Pathways, Greystones and EOTAS, helped pull all three sites through a notice to improve from Ofsted – and was commended by the Government inspectors for the “big difference” he had made in 2012. A Department for Education spokeswoman said last night she was unable to comment.