SCHOOLS bosses are continuing to refuse to reveal why two leading teachers have been suspended - and have not yet announced what interim measures are being put in place.

Speculation is rife as to why Nardeep Sharma and Catherine Hutley were suspended from the Thrive Partnership Academy Trust three weeks ago.

Mr Sharma is the trust’s chief executive officer, which is a partnership between Philip Morant School and College in Colchester and the Colne Community School and College in Brightlingsea.

Ms Hutley is the principal of Philip Morant School and College and the executive head of the Colne School and College.

The trust has refused to explain why the pair were suspended and Essex County Council is dealing with media enquiries.

Parents are due to be updated on interim leadership arrangements at the secondary schools when pupils return after the Easter break, on Monday.

We have been contacted by a senior teacher who believes the suspension centres around how complaints of bullying have been dealt with and the duo’s involvement with Coast 2 Coast Teaching School Alliance, which offers training courses.

A council spokesman refused to reveal why the pair have been suspended. A statement simply read: “The investigation will proceed over the coming weeks and until its conclusion, the Trust is not in position to comment any further on the matter.”

The Trust took the measure to suspend the pair but has previously said it “is a neutral act and enables the trust to carry out further work to establish the facts of the situation.”

In the last week the trust has started to advertise for a finance manager and an HR and payroll officer.

The finance manager, salaried £23,398, would “support the finance director to produce financial information for Thrive Partnership Academy Trust academies and its subsidiary”.

The HR and payroll officer, salaried £12,851, would prepare the trust’s complete payroll function “in line with HMRC, statutory and Financial Reporting standards.”