Despina Pavlou

Despina Pavlou was the head teacher of the Lord Grey School in Bletchley, Milton Keynes from September 2002 to November 2006. Ms Pavlou was suspended^[1] for allegedly assaulting her Deputy Head. She was officially dismissed in November 2006. Confirming her dismissal, her solicitor told the Milton Keynes Citizen ^[2] "Miss Pavlou will be appealing against that decision and she will have the full support of the Association of School and College Leaders in the appeal proceedings." She is also known for her multiple exclusions,^[3] one of which resulted in court action against her by the excluded child's parents, claiming that she took away the student's right to education. Ms Pavlou eventually won the court case in the House of Lords after a three year legal battle.^[4] Human rights lawyer Cherie Booth (Blair) represented the pupil. The National press took an interest in Ms Pavlou at this stage because of queries about what was funding the court case.^{[citation needed]}

Pavlou did manage to turn the performance of the Lord Grey school from unsatisfactory ^[5] to good.^{[6][citation needed]}

Ms Pavlou was previously deputy head teacher at John Mason School in Abingdon, Oxfordshire, and earier in her career had taught at the Royal Latin School in Buckingham.

Ms Pavlou has a degree in English Literature from the University of Nottingham. She subsequently studied for a PGCE at the University of Cambridge which she passed with a distinction.

On 29 July 2010 the General Teaching Council made a disciplinary order against Ms Despina Pavlou with immediate effect. Ms Despina Pavlou was found guilty of unacceptable professional conduct whilst employed as headteacher at Lord Grey School, Milton Keynes between September 2000 and 31 March 2006. Ms Despina Pavlou received a Conditional Registration Order (issued without limit of time). The condition is that Ms Pavlou should not take up employment as a headteacher nor as a deputy headteacher.^[7]

References

1. ^ Headteacher suspended as governors' chairman quits - Milton Keynes Today
2. ^ Head sacked – but she's set to appeal - Milton Keynes Today
3. ^ Head defends expulsions - Milton Keynes Today
4. ^ School wins legal battle - Milton Keynes Today
5. ^ Performance trend 1998-2001 (graph at end)
6. ^ OFSTED inspection report 2003 "Lord Grey is a good school. It has improved significantly through very good leadership with a strong focus on learning." and Performance trend graph (at end) 2002-2005
7. ^ Disciplinary order made by the GTC-Hearing of Professional Conduct Committee

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Name	Pavlou, Despina
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