A SCHOOLS inspector is battling to clear his name after a complaint about his verdict on a Liversedge school.
Michael Elson, 61, fears his career may have been seriously damaged after the objection by an unnamed member of staff at Spen Valley High School.
Yesterday he won the first stage of a battle to protect his reputation when he was granted permission for a full High Court hearing.
Mr Elson inspected the school on November 11, 2002.
After his report, education watchdog Ofsted received a complaint about his findings.
The teacher claimed that Mr Elson, of Leatherhead, Surrey, had given a "serious misrepresentation" of the state of affairs at the school in a "negative and seriously unbalanced report".
Ofsted decided to uphold certain aspects of the complaint at a hearing on March 25 last year and the Independent Complaints Adjudicator (ICA) upheld them again in a ruling on July 14 this year.
Mr Justice Collins, sitting at London's High Court yesterday, granted Mr Elson permission to seek judicial review of the Ofsted and ICA decisions, which he says have tarnished his reputation.
Mr Elson argues the partial upholding of the complaints has had "substantial and on-going detrimental effects" upon his professional reputation and his ability to earn his living.
Among other things, he says there were procedural weaknesses in the way Ofsted and the ICA handled the matter.
Mr Justice Collins gave him permission to mount a full judicial review challenge, saying he had "formed a strong view that this case is arguable".
The case will now go on to a full High Court hearing at a later, unspecified, date.
Mr Elson said afterwards: "All I want is to clear my name."
