DOZENS of parents at a school at the centre of a leadership crisis have signed a letter supporting its remaining staff.

Philip Morant School and College, Colchester, is part of the Thrive Partnership Academy Trust.

But the trust’s chief executive Nardeep Sharma and executive head teacher Catherine Hutley have been suspended since March for unknown reasons.

In the letter published in today’s Gazette and co-signed by 55 parents, they also describe the Thrive trust’s leadership as “arrogant” but they hope the new leadership team can restore the school’s reputation.

The letter states: “We are particularly pleased that the Thrive Partnership Academy will no longer be playing any role in managing the school.

“We found its leadership unaccountable and arrogant and were not convinced that it put the pupils’ best interests first.

“As the school year draws to a close we want to put on record our appreciation for all the teaching and support staff at Philip Morant School who work so hard for our children.

"We hope that the recent changes to the school leadership will allow everyone in the school community: pupils, staff and parents, to work together to make Philip Morant the best that it can be.”

Earlier this month head teachers Gillian Marshall, from Colchester County High School for Girls, and Neil Gallagher, principal of Clacton County High School, were brought in to “scale up the level of support” at the Thrive trust until the summer holidays.

READ THE LETTER IN FULL HERE

Mrs Marshall is, with immediate effect, interim executive head teacher at Philip Morant School and College, working with the two acting head teachers, Colin Green and Michelle Myer.

Mr Gallagher, who is from the Sigma Trust, is the interim executive head teacher at the Colne Community School and College, working with Dan Fox who remains as head of school.

Last week the Thrive trust said it had entered a ‘re-brokering’ process meaning a number of suitable Multi-Academy Trusts have been invited to express an interest in taking on the schools.

The Regional Schools Commissioner Sue Baldwin is working with the Thrive trust to put in place long-term arrangements.