Last updated at 19:42, Thursday, 12 July 2012

A group of parents have said they are considering removing their children from Distington Community School.

NOT HAPPY: Paula Martin, front right, with other parents and grandparents who have raised concerns about Distington Community School

They have written to the village school’s chairman of governors and Cumbria County Council expressing concern about the school.

They allege that there has been a high staff turnover, which might be confusing to a child, and a lack of parents’ evenings and feedback, leaving them in the dark about their children’s education.

With less than a week to go before the end of the school year, parents claim they have not been told who will teach their children in September.

The school had 113 pupils, including 23 nursery children, in January.

Since then two children from different families have been taken out of the school and others claim they will do the same if concerns are not addressed.

Group spokeswoman Paula Martin, 29, of Church Road, who has one child at the school, said: “Our school hasn’t got an open door policy. Some parents don’t even know where their child’s classroom is.

“We want our school back as a community school.”

Kim Lace, 29, of Hinnings Road, removed her son and now spends £22 a week on bus fares to Parton.

She said: “It’s meant to be a community school. I live in this community and I have to go to a different community with my son because of it.”

It was last rated by Ofsted in November 2009, soon after the arrival of current headteacher Nicola Heron, when inspectors said it was a good school.

A statement from the school said: “Distington Community School is aware of the concerns raised by parents and we are responding through our established procedures.

“The school will not be commenting further while these processes are ongoing. We take our pupils’ education very seriously and this remains our first priority.”

A council spokesman said: “The county council is aware of the issues raised by parents at Distington Community School and will continue to work with the school's governing body for them to respond, following their procedures, to the concerns.”

The school’s chairman of governors, Doreen Belford, was unavailable for comment.

First published at 19:25, Thursday, 12 July 2012
Published by http://www.timesandstar.co.uk