A CRISIS-HIT Halesowen primary is to bring in a headteacher from another school to offer support to its own under-fire head.

The News reported last month how more than 330 people signed a ‘no confidence in the headteacher’ petition launched by parents at St Margaret’s C of E Primary School in Hasbury.

Our story prompted a huge response with many backing parents’ concerns over the departures of long-serving staff while others leapt to the defence of headteacher Sara Shepherd and the school.

A public meeting was arranged at the end of January by the Diocese of Worcester, which oversees the welfare of the school.

At that meeting, it was agreed that Ms Shepherd, who took up her post last September, would be ‘mentored’ by another local headteacher.

Councillor Sue Ridney, Dudley Council’s cabinet member for children and young people said: “The meeting was very positive and all parties agreed the importance of working together in the best interests of the children at the school.

“Parents and carers had the opportunity to express their concerns and we listened to the issues and explained the plans in place to help the school move forward.

“The local authority has issued a warning letter requiring the school to write an action plan setting out how they will address the parental concerns and will look into the complaints received. “Additional support will be provided by local authority officers and from another school in the authority.

“It’s standard practice to offer mentoring support to newer headteachers and as such an experienced headteacher from a neighbouring church school will be providing mentoring support to the head and sharing their skillset and knowledge.”

Catherine Keenan, the parent who instigated the initial petition, said she was satisfied that the issues with the school were being looked into.

She added: "At the meeting, parents handed in the petition to the relevant authorities.

“Dudley LA and Worcester Diocese Board of Education then explained the actions that have been taken which will support all parties of the school community.

“It was identified at the meeting that a number of complaints have been received and these will be thoroughly looked into.

"As a parent of a child at the school, I hope with all my heart that things can move on at the school and notice will be taken especially of comments both positive and negative on the Halesowen News online website.

“I wish to thank Dudley LA for all the support they have given me.”

A brief statement from the Diocese added: "We are working really closely with the local authority and the school to help the school move forward."