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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| St Boniface's Catholic College head teacher suspended | St Boniface's Catholic College head teacher suspended |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| The head teacher of a Catholic school in Plymouth has been suspended. | |
| St Boniface's Catholic College wrote to parents last week following a complaint about Peter Eccles's private life. | St Boniface's Catholic College wrote to parents last week following a complaint about Peter Eccles's private life. |
| The school's chair of governors, Stephen Hole, said deputy Andrew Davies had been appointed as acting head while an investigation was carried out. | The school's chair of governors, Stephen Hole, said deputy Andrew Davies had been appointed as acting head while an investigation was carried out. |
| Mr Eccles said his marital circumstances had changed, but would not comment further. | Mr Eccles said his marital circumstances had changed, but would not comment further. |
| "I feel the media interest in this story is disproportionate.....there has been huge interest and scrutiny in my private life since a change in my marital circumstances," he told BBC News. | "I feel the media interest in this story is disproportionate.....there has been huge interest and scrutiny in my private life since a change in my marital circumstances," he told BBC News. |
| The nature of the complaint made against Mr Eccles has not been specified, but is said not to relate to pupils. | The nature of the complaint made against Mr Eccles has not been specified, but is said not to relate to pupils. |
| In the letter to parents and pupils, Mr Hole said he had "reluctantly" suspended Mr Eccles. | In the letter to parents and pupils, Mr Hole said he had "reluctantly" suspended Mr Eccles. |
| 'Need to listen' | 'Need to listen' |
| "I have recently been made aware of a written complaint relating to Mr Eccles's private life," it said. | "I have recently been made aware of a written complaint relating to Mr Eccles's private life," it said. |
| "In most situations, this would remain a personal and private matter. In a faith school, where staff are expected to uphold the teachings of the Roman Catholic faith, we have a duty to investigate whether standards have been breached." | "In most situations, this would remain a personal and private matter. In a faith school, where staff are expected to uphold the teachings of the Roman Catholic faith, we have a duty to investigate whether standards have been breached." |
| Mr Hole said the head teacher had "steered the college with great commitment" while dealing with "some difficult circumstances" regarding finance and staffing at the school and also dealing with a "major upheaval in his family life". | Mr Hole said the head teacher had "steered the college with great commitment" while dealing with "some difficult circumstances" regarding finance and staffing at the school and also dealing with a "major upheaval in his family life". |
| "He has done this with professionalism, integrity and fairness," the letter said. | "He has done this with professionalism, integrity and fairness," the letter said. |
| Two years ago, the bursar of the school, Peter Gorman, was arrested and later charged with fraud and intending to cause loss to the college and Plymouth City Council. | Two years ago, the bursar of the school, Peter Gorman, was arrested and later charged with fraud and intending to cause loss to the college and Plymouth City Council. |
| He was suspended indefinitely and will stand trial at Plymouth Crown later this year. He has denied the charges. | He was suspended indefinitely and will stand trial at Plymouth Crown later this year. He has denied the charges. |
| An Ofsted spokesperson said it would not be appropriate to comment while an investigation was taking place. | An Ofsted spokesperson said it would not be appropriate to comment while an investigation was taking place. |
| But Plymouth Moor View MP, Alison Sea beck, said there were issues at the school which had to be addressed. | But Plymouth Moor View MP, Alison Sea beck, said there were issues at the school which had to be addressed. |
| "Things are clearly coming to a head and the city council and the diocese need to listen to what the young people are saying to them as it's their education that's important," she added. | "Things are clearly coming to a head and the city council and the diocese need to listen to what the young people are saying to them as it's their education that's important," she added. |
| No-one from the city council or the Diocese of Plymouth was available to comment. | No-one from the city council or the Diocese of Plymouth was available to comment. |
| St Boniface's Catholic College was founded by the Bishop of Plymouth in 1856 as an independent boarding and day school for "young Catholic gentlemen". |