Jean Else
Encyclopedia
Jean Else, formerly Dame Jean Else DBE
(born c. 1950) is an English former educator/headteacher, who garnered both acclaim and notoriety over the course of her long teaching career. She is a bi-weekly columnist for the Manchester Evening News
.
in 1994 when the girls' comprehensive school
had the worst truancy
rate in England and Wales
. During her headship, truancy was cut to below the national average, pupil numbers were almost doubled, and GCSE results improved from 16% to 34% of pupils getting the top grades. School inspectors
called it "a very good school with many strengths and few weaknesses ... exceptionally well led and very efficiently managed and administered".
after allegations were made by the Audit Commission
following their own two year investigation.
Jean Else pursued a lengthy battle to return to the school but was finally dismissed in August 2006, along with her sister, Maureen Rochford, who had risen from a part-time clerical assistant at the school to assistant head, and Stewart Scott, director of governance, following allegations of nepotism
and questionable management. Whalley Range High School is now run by former Parrs Wood
headteacher Patsy Kane.
, which had been awarded in 2001, had been revoked. She is the only woman created a Dame
(of any order of British female knighthood) to date to have the honour revoked.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(born c. 1950) is an English former educator/headteacher, who garnered both acclaim and notoriety over the course of her long teaching career. She is a bi-weekly columnist for the Manchester Evening News
Manchester Evening News
The Manchester Evening News is a regional daily newspaper covering Greater Manchester in the United Kingdom. It is published every day except Sunday and is owned by Trinity Mirror plc following its sale by Guardian Media Group in early 2010. It has an average daily circulation of 90,973 copies...
.
Professional notability
Jean Else took over Whalley Range High School in ManchesterManchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
in 1994 when the girls' comprehensive school
Comprehensive school
A comprehensive school is a state school that does not select its intake on the basis of academic achievement or aptitude. This is in contrast to the selective school system, where admission is restricted on the basis of a selection criteria. The term is commonly used in relation to the United...
had the worst truancy
Truancy
Truancy is any intentional unauthorized absence from compulsory schooling. The term typically describes absences caused by students of their own free will, and usually does not refer to legitimate "excused" absences, such as ones related to medical conditions...
rate in England and Wales
England and Wales
England and Wales is a jurisdiction within the United Kingdom. It consists of England and Wales, two of the four countries of the United Kingdom...
. During her headship, truancy was cut to below the national average, pupil numbers were almost doubled, and GCSE results improved from 16% to 34% of pupils getting the top grades. School inspectors
Ofsted
The Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills is the non-ministerial government department of Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Schools In England ....
called it "a very good school with many strengths and few weaknesses ... exceptionally well led and very efficiently managed and administered".
Controversy
Else spent 10 years turning the school into one of the most high profile schools in Manchester. In November 2004, however, she and several other senior staff members were suspended from duty, pending an investigation by Manchester City CouncilManchester City Council
Manchester City Council is the local government authority for Manchester, a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. It is composed of 96 councillors, three for each of the 32 electoral wards of Manchester. Currently the council is controlled by the Labour Party and is led by...
after allegations were made by the Audit Commission
Audit Commission
The Audit Commission is a public corporation in the United Kingdom.The Commission’s primary objective is to improve economy, efficiency and effectiveness in local government, housing and the health service, directly through the audit and inspection process and also through value for money...
following their own two year investigation.
Jean Else pursued a lengthy battle to return to the school but was finally dismissed in August 2006, along with her sister, Maureen Rochford, who had risen from a part-time clerical assistant at the school to assistant head, and Stewart Scott, director of governance, following allegations of nepotism
Nepotism
Nepotism is favoritism granted to relatives regardless of merit. The word nepotism is from the Latin word nepos, nepotis , from which modern Romanian nepot and Italian nipote, "nephew" or "grandchild" are also descended....
and questionable management. Whalley Range High School is now run by former Parrs Wood
Parrs Wood
Parrs Wood is an area of East Didsbury, in the southern part of the city of Manchester, England. It incorporates part of Wilmslow Road and is home to Parrs Wood High School and Sixth Form Centre, a Tesco supermarket, and Parrs Wood Entertainment Centre. Whilst there are some distinct features to...
headteacher Patsy Kane.
Damehood revoked
On 8 February 2011, it was announced in the London Gazette that Else's DBEOrder of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
, which had been awarded in 2001, had been revoked. She is the only woman created a Dame
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(of any order of British female knighthood) to date to have the honour revoked.