'Cruelty' head quits school

May 25 2006 By Tony Collins, Birmingham Mail

THE head teacher of a city nursery school has resigned two years after she was suspended amid allegations of child cruelty.

Ann Baynes was suspended from her job as head of Bordesley Green East Nursery School, in Stechford, in 2004 following complaints from parents and members of staff.

She was subsequently charged with seven offences of cruelty to children under the age of 16. The offences were alleged to have taken place between September 1, 2002 and July 31, 2004.

But, although the case was listed for trial at Birmingham Crown Court in March this year, the prosecution offered no evidence and the charges were dropped.

A Birmingham education spokesman confirmed that Mrs Baynes had been suspended as head of the nursery school over child protection issues.

He added: "We can confirm that she has resigned as of April 30 this year."

Charges against Mrs Baynes were dropped in January after the prosecution decided to offer no evidence in the case.

A spokesman for the Crown Prosecution Service said: "We offered no evidence after taking the decision that there was an unrealistic prospect of obtaining a conviction."

Once the case against the head teacher was dropped, Birmingham education authority continued its own investigation into the allegations.

These are understood to have also involved claims by school staff of workplace bullying and intimidation.

News of Mrs Baynes' decision not to return to Bordesley Green East Nursery were revealed when the chair of governors submitted a letter of resignation to the school on her behalf.

A former member of staff at the school, who did not want to be named, said up to 20 witnesses had been due to give evidence at the crown court trial.

She said: "It is very disappointing that the charges were dropped at the last minute."

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