Mr. Graham Powell

Graham Powell , chairman of the governors at Marjorie Evans' school , said there would be a meeting next Monday at which her future would be discussed.

He said he was going to advise his fellow governors to wait until the result of any appeal is known before deciding if she should keep her job , or be sacked.

But following the sentence Mr Powell said that there is a real risk she could lose her job.

See Teacher denies slap claim , BBC News , June 13 , 2000.

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Chairman of Governors Graham Powell also commented on the Social Services culture of "believe the child at all costs".

Graham Powell the chairman of the board of governors at the school, which cannot be named for legal reasons, said he was astounded by the sentence.

He added : She has not failed the school, the pupils or the community.

After an hour-and-a-half meeting today the governors' chairman Graham Powell said the unanimous decision had been taken to continue Mrs Evans's suspension and that of a colleague following legal advice.

Mr Powell said : We have given long and serious consideration to the issue regarding the suspension of two members ofthe teaching staff.But we reiterate the decision of September 1, 2000 to continue the suspension..

He added that the governors wanted to emphasise that the suspensions were taken without prejudice.
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Mr Powell said tonight he hoped the police investigation would be completed by then.

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After the meeting , which lasted an hour-and-a-half , the governors' chairman Councillor Graham Powell said the unanimous decision had been taken to continue Mrs Evans's suspension following legal advice.

...
Mr Powell said : We have given long and serious consideration to the issue regarding the suspension of two members of the teaching staff.But we reiterate the decision of September 1 , 2000 to continue the suspension..

He added that the governors wanted to emphasise that the suspensions were taken without prejudice.

...
Mr Powell said he hoped the police investigation would be completed by then.

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Graham Powell , the chairman of the school's board of governors , said he was amazed by the outcome.

I've always believed in Mrs Evans' innocence and I still do , he said.She is an excellent teacher and an exceptional head teacher..

Gethin Lewis , the Welsh secretary of the National Union of Teachers , said : The union is stunned.Parents and teachers will hear this with disbelief.We cannot believe this judgment is correct.We are considering an appeal to the crown court.