A PRIVATE primary school has been left with fewer than ten pupils after its head teacher quit just half a term into the job.

Andrew Hammond resigned from Norman Court in West Tytherley at the end of June over concerns for pupil safety and the way trustees were running the school.

He is the second head to resign from the school in the past year.

One mother said this led to a “parent revolt”, with an action group trying to convince Mr Hammond to stay.

On June 28 parents gave a “vote of no confidence” in trustee and school founder Susan Hartley-Raven and called for a new board. But the action group told parents on Friday there had been a “resounding silence” from the trustees and Mr Hammond left that day.

Acting on parents’ concerns, the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI) carried out an emergency inspection last week. It found a letter from Ofsted stating the school was not licensed to teach children over 11.

But it had been operating as a secondary school since September.

Trustees said an “arrangement is being negotiated” with Moyles Court to take the existing secondary pupils.

In 2015 the school agreed to host the National Citizen Service for 15 to 17-year-olds. Trustees estimated it would “generate over £100,000” a year, but it meant fewer rooms available for pupils and strangers roaming the school site unchecked.

Parent Susi Serfontein, who worked in the school office, said “children were forced out of their classrooms”.

She said: “The NCS became the [trustees’] major focus because the school didn’t make them any money.”

Trustees told parents they would continue the NCS scheme despite “logistical challenges” .

A letter home dated June 28 said safety measures had been put in place for when NCS users were on site.

It said all NCS users would be allocated a leader who had been background checked and would also be registered “in the mornings, evenings and throughout the day”.

The letter also stated that the school’s water system would be disinfected after legionella bacteria were found. Mrs Serfontein said: “It’s been terribly emotionally upsetting and disappointing for everybody involved.

“We were really happy to have found Norman Court and it was very much the kind of education we wanted for our children, which was more creative and less restrictive.

“It had the makings of a perfect, brilliant school, it’s just down to the management and the trustees.

“The trustees weren’t involved nearly enough in whether the school was succeeding or failing.”

The trustees of Norman Court said: "Andrew Hammond was appointed headmaster of Norman Court School in February 2017.

"He visited the school bi-weekly before taking up his post on April 1 2017. He resigned on June 13, and he finished on July 14.

"Having spent so much time with Andrew between his appointment and his official start date developing shared plans for the future, we are disappointed that our visons did not seem to be aligned.

"Recognising the disruption that Mr Hammond’s resignation would cause, the formation of the Parent Action Group to help develop Norman Court further was welcomed by the Trustees, and testament to the fact that so many parents value Norman Court’s unique offer.

"It is with regret that the Trustees and the PAG were unable to persuade Mr Hammond to stay.

"Norman Court School remains open as a nursery, infant and junior school, with a committed and dedicated set of Trustees, teaching staff and parents.

"It will continue to provide a unique learning experience for young people within an amazing location."

Mr Hammond, brother of former Top Gear presenter Richard, was unavailable.

In 2015 the school had 21 pupils.