Street Crispin School worker will not return after racism row

A Crispin School staff member will not return to work in September after backlash over comments reportedly made at a rally in Taunton.

Wessex Learning Trust, which runs Crispin School Academy in Street, has confirmed that Brenda Heal – known online as Brenda Rose - will not return to work at either the school or the trust after material circulated on social media.

The footage, reportedly filmed at a rally in Taunton on Saturday, 25 July, prompted criticism online and a statement from Glastonbury and Somerton MP Sarah Dyke. She said she was "horrified" by the video, which she said showed a learning support staff member making derogatory comments about ethnic minority students.

A Wessex Learning Trust spokesperson said: "We are proud to serve a diverse and inclusive community, and we firmly believe that the diversity of our pupils, staff and wider community is one of the school's and Trust's greatest strengths.

"We are committed to ensuring that everyone is treated with dignity, respect and fairness, regardless of their race, religion, ethnicity or background.

"We would like to thank those members of our community who have taken the time to bring this material to our attention. We can confirm that the member of staff will not be returning to work at Crispin School or the Wessex Learning Trust in September."

Crispin School had earlier written to parents and carers after the material began circulating. In the letter, headteacher Lee Cornwall said the views expressed did not represent the school or the trust.

Mr Cornwall said the school was committed to making sure every member of the community was treated with dignity, respect and fairness, regardless of race, religion, ethnicity or background. He said the school would continue to work with organisations promoting cultural diversity.

He wrote: "Our values are not simply words we use when things are easy; they matter most when they are tested. At Crispin, we will continue to stand together as a community in which everyone is valued, difference is celebrated, and racism and prejudice have no place."

MP Sarah Dyke said she had written to the head of Crispin School and Wessex Learning Trust after seeing the footage. She said she had been assured that a full investigation was under way.

In her statement, Ms Dyke said: "Let's be clear: this is not simply a matter of personal political opinion."

She added: "This is a fundamental breach of trust. It has no place in a school. It has no place in Somerset."