A headteacher suspended following a critical Ofsted report is appealing against the decision.

Sandra Smith, headteacher at Old Heath Primary School in Colchester, was suspended from her post in November last year.

Trudy Halls, chair of the school's board of governors, has written to parents and guardians of pupils at the school to tell them Mrs Smith had lodged an appeal.

In the letter she said: "I can confirm Mrs Smith has lodged an appeal, which means that governors must hold a further hearing on this issue. This will be held as soon as possible, but it is unlikely to be fully resolved until a few weeks time."

Mrs Smith took over as head of Old Heath Primary in 1994. Her leadership abilities came under scrutiny in May 1997 in a disastrous report by the Government's school inspectors.

In October 1998 the inspectors put the school on special measures. At the time education authority spokesman Mike Barnett said: "This meant it was a failing school."

There are currently proposals to demolish the building and put up a new school with 210 places.

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