Governors refuse to comment after head of Fenland school asked to stay at home

The absence of Rachel Beeson, head of All Saints Inter-Church Primary Academy, has not been explained and governors refused to discuss what has happened.

John Lynes, chairman of the ­governors, said: “The governing body can confirm that Mrs Beeson is not suspended and remains the head teacher at All Saints Inter-Church Academy. Due to reasons of ­confidentiality the governing body is not able to comment further.”

The school, which this year became the first inter-church primary school in Britain to switch to academy status, is being run by two senior assistant heads.

Mr Lynes insisted that Mrs Beeson “remains head” but also confirmed “she did not return to school for this term”.

He did not agree that the issue of the headship was a matter of legitimate public interest but “I understand that the Press is doing its job”.

When pupils returned for the autumn term they discovered that Mrs Beeson was not at school and that temporary arrangements had been put in place.

Parents have been updated in a newsletter. Mr Lynes could not say if, or when, the governors would meet to review the situation.

Mrs Beeson and her team of ­governors switched the school from local authority funding to inter-church academy status in April and pledged to preserve the unique ­flavour of its joint Catholic and Church of England heritage.

At the time, Mrs Beeson said: “We have a very distinctive ethos and we wanted to make sure it was protected and promoted.

“It’s hugely positive and has been done after extensive consultation with parents, teachers, children and governors.”

Academy status means that money comes direct from the Government to the school, cutting out the education authority, giving governors the freedom to run the establishment as they see fit.

The 220-pupil school and 60-strong pre-school playgroup is one of just 10 inter-church primaries in the country.