PARENTS have been left with more questions surrounding the future of a Basingstoke primary school after its chair of governors was removed. 

As previously reported in the Gazette parents who have children at St Anne’s Primary School, in Pinkerton Road, South Ham, have been campaigning to stop the school being forced into becoming an academy. 

The school had received an ‘inadequate’ Ofsted rating in January after a visit in November last year - the school had been rated as ‘outstanding’ in its last inspection in 2013.

However, a Gazette source has informed the paper that the chair of governors, Alice Pavey, has been sacked by the Diocese of Portsmouth, who oversee the running of the school. 

One parent who did not wished to be named said: “The governors expressed confusion as to why she should be sacked now, six months after the Ofsted inspection and not at the time. 
“There is general shock that it is the chair of governors who has been dismissed, for no good or public reason.” 

Parents and governors met with trustees at the school on Tuesday evening to see if any clarity could be given regarding the situation. 

However, they were told the reasoning for Mrs Pavey being removed were ‘confidential’. 

Another parent said: “There has to be an explanation as to why Alice is no longer at the school, but for some reason we aren’t being told. 
“There seems to be no transparency from the Diocese of Portsmouth and whenever we ask for answers we are told its confidential.” 

Walter Perotto, will now take over as chair.

Ofsted has made a visit to the school since the ‘inadequate’ rating was given. 

During this visit officers from the education watchdog praised the progress being made.
However, this was a ‘monitoring visit’ rather than a full inspection so the ‘inadequate’ rating still remains.

At the time of publication more than 360 people had signed the petition to stop the forced academisation of the school. 

Both the Diocese of Portsmouth and Hampshire County Council were approached for a comment but did not respond by the time the Gazette went to print.

To sign the petition, visit change.org/p/department-for-education-stop-forced-academisation-of-st-anne-s-catholic-primary-school.