POWERSTOCK School's head of governors Jill Haynes has resigned in the wake of the departure of unhappy headteacher Josie Butcher.

Mrs Butcher announced her resignation two weeks ago, saying her position had become untenable with some parents and governors undermining her role.

Head of governors Jill Haynes said she was saddened at the 'shocking waste' of a good head teacher. She said: "I had already told the LEA and the head I intended to resign next spring. I had hoped to see the school and the head through the next OFSTED inspection.

"I have taken on a lot more work commitments and it was getting too much for me. I have been in touch with the LEA and they felt it would be a lot easier in the current circumstances to get somebody in from outside with experience as a chair of governors.

"Part of the problem is that in a small school it can be difficult to stay objective because everyone is so close. It is my understanding that they are looking to find an experienced chair of governors from elsewhere to replace me, probably for a year's term.

"I have talked at length with Mike Young (Dorset County Council's deputy director of education) and it was felt it was not right to appoint somebody from within the governing body."

Mrs Haynes has been asked to stay until they find somebody suitable to replace her but she said she felt it was the right time to resign rather than leave in the first term of a new head's appointment.

"There is a very close relationship between a head and the chairman of the governors," she said. "I don't consider it a blow at all, I consider it an essential part of the process of drawing the whole thing together. It is vital that the school, parents and governors move forward as one."

Mrs Haynes said she felt she had achieved the best she could for the school under the circumstances and had woken the LEA up to what was happening at the school.

"I am afraid I felt I had to do that. It could have been a question of just carrying on with different people there until it was so destabilising for the staff that it became a major problem.

"The LEA will keep a close eye on the school and that is a positive move rather than being anything derogatory, they will be looking to provide the best education for the children. They are taking it pretty seriously, which is good."

Mrs Haynes said she understood the LEA were going to appoint a mentor who would most likely be a local head experienced with dealing with small rural schools.

She also understood the LEA had already approached three people to take over as acting head, head of governors and as a mentor.

"There will be a support network in place which I think is very important otherwise you are thrown seriously in the deep end which I felt Mrs Butcher was, coming from a big school on Portland to a small school."

Mrs Haynes added that a last week's meeting between governors and parents a number of letters of support from Mrs Butcher had been read out and some parents had also brought in letters of support for every teacher at the school. This support had been a great help to Mrs Butcher, she said, who was now feeling a lot more confident.