Head angry at red tape

A Walsall headteacher today said it was “child protection gone mad” after he was investigated because a criminal records check showed he had forgotten to renew his fishing rod licence.

Bob Yeomans, head of St John’s Primary School in Walsall Wood, went fishing on the River Dove in Derbyshire last summer to relax after a typically busy week at work.

As he fished, the water bailiff saw Mr Yeomans and informed him that his licence had expired.

But despite owning up to the oversight and paying a £50 fine, Mr Yeomans found himself at the centre of an inquiry - which has still not been resolved.

The fine was uncovered by a routine criminal records check - mandatory for those who work with children - almost 12 months later.Mr Yeomans said: “The chair of governors was notified that there could be an issue with a CRB check in the school and rang to tell me. I said ‘Is it a member of staff?’ and he said ‘No, it’s you.’ I was shocked.

“He had to visit me and, in effect, he was being asked if I was fit to work with children for forgetting to renew my rod licence. It was just child protection gone mad.”

Mr Yeomans has not been suspended, but the Brook Lane school is waiting for official clearance to continue employing him as head.

A Home Office spokesman said: “If you have an enhanced CRB check, everything will appear, and it is then up to the employer.

“It’s better and safer for any contact the person has had with the police to be mentioned.”

Mick Brookes, general secretary of the National Association of Head Teachers, of which Mr Yeomans is a member, said such micro-management of schools had gone “too far” but Education Walsall spokeswoman Claire Clews said policies were in place for a reason.