I’ve watched him make hundreds of teenagers laugh… and encourage them to embrace their awkwardness and vulnerability.” She tweeted: “I’ve seen Simon’s school talks and he is masterful, kind, and hilarious. Holly Bourne, a best-selling author of young adult fiction, said the cancellation was “absolutely astonishing”. The arrangements for the governance of the school will be communicated to the staff, parents and pupils during the week ending 11 March 2022.”įollowing i‘s story, Mr Green has received a wave of support from a range of organisations and authors.
“As a result we will be imposing an interim executive board on the school in partnership with the local authority and the regional schools commissioner, with immediate effect. This renders the governing body inquorate and dysfunctional. As a consequence we are removing the remaining foundation governors under the powers set out in the Articles and Instrument of governance. “This decision has eroded mine and Archbishop John’s confidence in the governing body. The site is run by Patricia McKeever, a former secondary school teacher in Scotland who has caused controversy for outing allegedly gay Catholic priests.ĭr Hughes’ letter continues: “Since the foundation governors of a Catholic school are the custodians of its legacy and represent the Archbishop in whose name the school is conducted, it is regrettable that the governing body has voted to allow the school to persevere with the event. More from EducationĪs previously reported by i, the website Catholic Truth had urged its readers to lobby the school and the diocese to cancel the event, saying it was a “major problem” that boys are “misled into accepting, as normal and good, sexual behaviour which is condemned by Christ’s Church”. “I have accepted their resignations with regret, since they have clearly urged the governing body to accept my recommendation. The letter reveals that two of the governors resigned because they backed the diocese in wanting to cancel. “I understand that this was to consider the very strong recommendation I made to the headteacher to cancel the visit of the author Simon James Green scheduled for 7 March 2022.”ĭr Hughes says that he spoke to the head, Philip McCullagh, “for an hour at least” on 2 March, and “dictated a statement he could use to cancel the event”. “It has been brought to my attention that there was an extraordinary governors meeting this morning (Saturday 5 March 2022),” he says. Now, i has obtained the letter sent by Simon Hughes, the director of education at the diocese, informing the governors of their removal. A separate visit by Mr Green to St John’s Primary School in Gravesend, which was scheduled for Wednesday and falls within the diocese, was also cancelled.