A councillor is furious after he was named as a trustee at a school embroiled in controversy over its pupil isolation room.

Cllr Andrew Mackness has spoken out after his name was published in a newsletter on Brompton Westbrook Primary School’s website when it became an academy in October.

The school, in Brompton, has been at the centre of a row over its isolation techniques. The Department for Education (DfE) has confirmed it will review an “independent investigation” which has apparently backed the school’s policy of shutting unruly children away, sometimes for long periods, in a cupboard-sized room.

Cllr Mackness (Con), who represents River ward, said: “I was approached to be a trustee and I went away to consider it but later declined. I did not wish to be a trustee and I am furious I was listed as one in the school’s newsletter which was put on the school’s website.”

The newsletter has since been removed from the website. The same newsletter also stated executive head teacher Jane Heyes was a trustee director.

When the Messenger asked a school spokesman last week who its trustees were, neither Cllr Mackness nor Mrs Heyes were on the list. The trustees were named as John Jones, Samantha Leonard, Adam Foley, Richard Gibbons, Lillian Gould, David Bragger and Jane Spurgin.

Previously the Messenger has reported how the trustees stated they had “full confidence in all staff of the school to continue their outstanding work” following an investigation into the isolation room, but they would not release the report.

Medway Council has now referred the matter to the DfE.A DfE spokesman said: “We are reviewing the investigation into Brompton Westbrook commissioned by the academy trust.
“The school must now take appropriate action, and we are considering what steps to take next if they fail to do so.”

The spokesman said it was up to the Brompton Westbrook trustees to decide whether to publish the investigation.

Rochester and Strood MP Mark Reckless called for the report to be made public.
Earlier this year, Medway Council conducted its own investigation but the matter was taken out of the council’s hands when the school became an academy.