A PETITION launched in support of a popular head of department at Penglais School - accused of gross misconduct - has gained nearly 1,000 signatures in days.

The Cambrian News understands that the secondary school’s head of art, Richard Edwards, known as Ed, could face instant dismissal if he is found guilty of gross misconduct at a disciplinary hearing set to take place on 1 July.

The petition, started on Saturday by Penglais A-level pupil Eleanor Sutcliffe, 18, claims the charge of gross misconduct is for “speaking out against the school’s policies”, and predicts the end of the art department if he is sacked.

The news comes after it was reported in the Cambrian News in April that the school, led by outgoing headteacher Matthew Brown since September 2013, did not show enough improvement to move out of Estyn monitoring monitoring amid mounting complaints from parents and claims the morale of staff was at “rock bottom”.

Miss Sutcliffe told the Cambrian News this week she was “a bit shocked” by the level of response to her petition, but said it illustrated the level of support there was for Mr Edwards.

“I am a bit shocked, and a bit concerned — I may get in some trouble,” she said. “But this isn’t just about us, there are children coming into Year 7 and we want them to have the same opportunities as us."

The school, governors and the county council said they could not comment.

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