A police investigation has been launched into an allegation of assault against a member of staff at Cotton End Lower School.

The Bedfordshire Police Child Protection Team has been called in amid a number of further complaints about the school from parents of pupils.

We understand an emergency meeting of teachers, governors and County Hall's education bosses had been scheduled for Tuesday at Cotton End Village Hall, but was called off in light of this week's development.

Last week Bedfordshire County Council said only five children had left the school since Easter.

But the Times & Citizen has so far met the parents of ten former pupils, who claimed they had removed their children because of concerns.
Lisa Smith, who worked at the school as a lunchtime supervisor for two years, recently took her son Reece, aged six, out of the school and handed in her resignation.

She said: "I have seen a huge change in the school since the beginning of 2007. I have felt it necessary to take my son out of the school and I have written to the county council to complain.

"Reece used to cry in the mornings that he didn't want to go to school. He is much happier now he is at Stephenson Lower School."

Miss Smith, of De Havilland Avenue, Shortstown, added: "I know of four other children leaving the school this week and over the last three months a good 13 children have left and there will be more that leave."

Maria Mackelle said she took her daughter Megan, eight, out of the school at Easter because she was afraid to go there, and Rebecca Smith said she removed her two children Mellissa, aged six, and Shawnie, eight, because they were "too petrified" to attend.

Miss Mackelle said "Megan constantly had diarrhoea because she was so scared to go to school. She used to come out shaking. Since she has left Cotton End Lower School and has been going to Shackleton Lower she has had no medical problems at all."

Megan said: "I hated going to Cotton End Lower School. It frightened me and used to freak me out. My school now is a lot better."

Lyndsay Mackay, of Trow Close, Cotton End, has also made a formal complaint to Bedfordshire County Council and the social services. She is also removing her daughter Kaylee, aged four, from the school and has arranged for her to attend Wilstead Lower School from September.

Mrs Mackay said: "She does not look forward to going to school, every morning she comes and tells me there is something wrong with her. It is because she is worried about going to school, not that she is ill. It is not a nurturing environment."

Charmaine Graham, of Meeting Close, Cotton End, has also taken her two sons, Kai, five, and Jordan, six, out of the school and plans to send them to Wilstead Lower or Stephenson Lower School from September.
The Rev Richard Pool, chairman of governors at Cotton End Lower School, said he was not able to comment on the situation.

A spokesman for Bedfordshire County Council said: "The internal investigation and meetings between County Hall and the school are continuing. At this stage and until the investigation has concluded, it would be inappropriate to go into any further detail."