GREENWICH Council has refused to answer a series of questions over the future of director of education George Gyte.

The News Shopper requested a response from Mr Gyte after leader of the council Chris Roberts last week admitted the authority, the directorate and headteachers had failed to improve education.

The local education authority finished in the bottom 10 in the country again this year in the primary school league tables.

Since then, there have been messages for Mr Gyte, who is responsible for the borough's controversial schools reorgan isation programme.

Headteacher of Crown Woods, Mr Michael Murphy, fully supported Mr Gyte's work. He said: "Greenwich is in a period of transition. I personally have had nothing but the full support of Greenwich Council since I started in January.

"We are going through a period of transition and this will take time. But, although things do not look like they are improving, I think they will."

The National Union of Teachers (NUT) has a different view though. Spokesman Tim Woodcock said: "The morale of teachers is so low because the council did not consult properly with parents over what they wanted.

"The NUT would be willing to sit down and discuss the issues surrounding education, rather than politics."

December 19, 2001 10:30