News / bristol city council
Bristol City Council ‘apology’ in racism row
Equality campaigner David McLeod said he has received a “personal apology” from Bristol City Council, after it hired a former headteacher at the centre of a racism row.
The former school development worker, said he has received a “personal apology” from the Director of Education, Paul Jacobs, after the council employed Gill Kelly, the former principle of City Academy in Redfield, as a part-time educational consultant.
Mr McLeod, won his case for racial discrimination against the academy school, in January.
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Kelly later resigned from the school, and was hired by Bristol City Council based “on the strength of her extensive experience in curriculum leadership”.
In November Bristol24/7 reported how Mr McLeod said he was shocked to discover she had been hired and the decision was “institutionally racist”.
‘Positive meeting’
Mr McLeod said the apology “is great news for my community” and will it “send the right message”.
He added that he had had a “positive meeting” with Jacobs. “He took our concerns on board,” said Mr McLeod. “He said he was fully committed to listing to the community and tackling inequality”.
A Bristol City Council spokesperson said: “Bristol City Council and Gill Kelly have reviewed the consultancy agreement and agreed to bring this work to a conclusion at the end of the development stage this autumn. This will allow Gill Kelly to fulfil new consultancy opportunities at a national and international level.”
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