Crisis talks have been called at a village school following an allegation of assault and the sudden departure of a number of pupils and staff.

Parents of children at Cotton End Lower School are understood to have made numerous complaints about staff and a formal complaint has been made against the headteacher, Lyn Fairweather.

Five out of a total of 40 pupils have left the school since Easter and one of 12 members of staff has also announced her departure.

An emergency meeting between teachers, governors and County Hall's education bosses has been called for next week.

Susan Gaszczak, county councillor for the Eastcotts ward, admitted the school's problems were common knowledge in the area.

She said: "I was wondering when this was going to come to light.
"I have had several phone calls from parents who are concerned and a couple of letters of complaint.

"They have been referred to Keith Scott, the council's area education officer, and I know he is having a meeting next week with teachers and governors."

She added: "The complaints have been centred around the instability of staff and there has been one complaint about how a child was taken out of assembly.

"I have heard that children have left the school and that things have come to a head this week.

"I will be watching the situation closely."

The Times & Citizen learned of the allegations after being contacted by the parent of a child at the school who wanted to remain anonymous.
Mrs Fairweather declined to comment to the Times & Citizen. Coun Rita Drinkwater, cabinet member for education at Bedfordshire County Council, did not return our calls on Wednesday.

In a statement released by the county council, Coun Drinkwater said: "I am aware that the chair of governors has received a complaint and the school is following the appropriate procedures to investigate the complaint.

"Clearly, until that investigation has run its course, we cannot go into any further detail on the matter."

A spokesman for Beds County Council said: "There has been one complaint this week from a Mrs Catchpole, a parent of a child at the school, about Mrs Fairweather.

"You say alleged assault – the complaint says manhandling a pupil and there have been murmurings from other people."

Mrs Claire Catchpole did not to wish to comment until after a meeting of teachers, governors, parents, and education officials, at Cotton End village hall on Tuesday, May 20.