A school in Cambridgeshire has strongly criticised Reform UK councillor Ryan Coogan for what it describes as 'abusive messages' directed at a member of its Special Educational Needs (SEND) co-ordination team. Mr Coogan, who was elected to Huntingdonshire District Council in May and leads the Reform UK group there, publicly called for the resignation of a staff member at Cottenham Village College.
In a series of posts on Facebook, Mr Coogan named the SEND co-ordinator and alleged they were 'making victims' lives more difficult and ruining children's futures'. He further stated, 'I think the Academy SENCO scandal is as big in size as the rape gang scandal just not as heinous,' a comparison Astrea Academy Trust, which operates the school, has condemned. An ongoing inquiry into child sexual abuse by grooming gangs is currently taking place in the UK.
Tomas Thurogood-Hyde, the director of corporate services for Astrea Academy, addressed parents in a letter, highlighting 'a significant concern with online activity containing abusive messages'. The letter specified that the Facebook posts, made by a parent, 'personally attack' the staff member, advocate for their removal, and make the controversial comparison to national rape gang scandals. The trust clarified that the parent had not raised 'meaningful concerns' with the school prior to these public posts, instead sending two emails of a similar, critical nature.
Mr Coogan, who represents the Ramsey ward, told the BBC he could only comment on one of the posts. He added, 'The people have had enough of Astrea Academy and much of its senior local leaders, they will not stop until Astrea Academy is removed from Cambridgeshire.' He suggested that positive private engagement with stakeholders or handing back the keys to their schools would be the only way for Astrea to avoid public scrutiny.
In response, Mr Thurogood-Hyde reiterated the trust's commitment to staff wellbeing, stating, 'We are committed to the wellbeing of our staff and will not tolerate any form of abuse, intimidation or harassment directed towards them, in person or online.' He affirmed that while respectful dialogue is welcomed, behaviour that targets individual staff members will not be accepted. Huntingdonshire District Council has noted that all its councillors are bound by a member code of conduct, and any concerns about councillor conduct are assessed according to established standards procedures.
The incident highlights the growing scrutiny faced by public figures regarding their online conduct and the responsibilities that come with elected office, particularly when engaging with institutions and individuals in their communities.
Source: BBC