MYSTERY surrounds why the head teacher of a failing Basingstoke school under threat of closure is absent.

On Monday, parents of Chineham Park Primary School, in Shakespeare Road, Popley were informed in a letter that Gwen Clifford will be “away from the school for a period of time” – but they were not given a reason for her absence or any idea how long she would be away.

The parents were informed that Alison Baron, head teacher of Marnel Junior School, and Nick Ridley, the assistant head teacher of Everest Community College, will share the head’s role while Mrs Clifford is away.

No one has been able, or willing, to confirm why Mrs Clifford is not at the school – including Hampshire County Council, which is the Local Education Authority.

A spokeswoman for Hampshire County Council told The Gazette: “HCC is not privy to the reason for the head teacher’s absence. It’s the decision of the Interim Executive Board (IEB).”

The IEB was created in June to turn the school around after it was put in special measures after a damning Ofsted report in January this year.

The letter was sent to parents by Mike Hiscock, who is the chairman of the IEB, and who works for Hampshire County Council’s children’s services department.

The letter told the parents that the school – which is the subject of a consultation process over its possible closure due to poor performance and falling pupil numbers – is due another Ofsted inspection visit within the next 20 days, and it said the IEB would work closely with the replacement head teachers in the lead up to this.

A statement from Mr Hiscock sent to The Gazette said: “Mrs Clifford will be away from the school for a short period of time. It is the policy of the IEB not to discuss personal staff matters in public but I can confirm that Mrs Clifford remains the head teacher of the school and has not been suspended.”

Parents are, however, angry that yet again they have been kept in the dark about what is going on, having first found out about the closure consultation process through the media.

Mother-of-two Joanne O’Shea, from Burns Close, Popley, Basingstoke, said: “All we have been told is that she will be absent. We don’t know why. It’s nothing unusual that we haven’t been told. We don’t get told anything.”

Sharon Lunnon, who is leading the campaign to save the school, said: “The local authority has removed their biggest obstacle in this consultation. That’s my opinion. They have done this to help their situation.

“Mrs Clifford was 100 per cent behind our campaign to save the school. I think they realised they weren’t winning and she was behind us and that wasn’t helping them. I think it’s because she had too big a voice. I really don’t think she is not there of her own accord.”

Maria Baker, from Wordsworth Close, added: “We have a right to know what’s going on especially with the threat of closure.”

Pupils and staff at the school have recorded a CD and video called “Save Our School”. The lyrics were written by Mrs Clifford and were based on the children’s words. A video of the children and staff singing can be seen on The Gazette website at basingstoke gazette.co.uk.

The consultation over the closure of the school ended yesterday (November 25), and Hampshire education chief Councillor David Kirk will make a decision about the future of the school on December 17.