A TROUBLED primary school has been thrown into chaos after its headteacher resigned.

David Bridge quit his role at the Willows Primary School, in Church Road, Basildon, at the end of last term and the team of governors has decided to draft in an executive headteacher in a bid to drive up standards.

Sean Tobin, head at Merrylands Primary School, in Cumberland Drive, Laindon, will now take on the role and split his time with the Willows.

Concerned parents claim the disruption has left both staff and pupils at the Willows Primary, unsettled.

One dad, who did not want to be named, said: “Mr Bridge left under a cloud and the new headteacher only spends half the week there, so the staff have been put under a lot of pressure.

“It’s a really difficult situation and we’re all very worried about what it means for the Willows.

“It’s unusual for this type of thing to happen at a primary school and it raises concerns for parents about how the school is being run and the quality of teaching.

“Last year it was a really happy environment, but now things have changed.”

Mr Bridge joined the Willows in January 2012, eight months after the school was deemed to be failing by Ofsted.

He successfully brought the primary, which has 500 children on its roll, out of special measures within a year, but it has continued to be told it requires improvements ever since.

Earlier this year Basildon Council and Essex County Council joined forces to create the Basildon Excellence Panel, which is chaired by former head of Ofsted Sir Mike Tomlinson.

A team of headteachers, business leaders and councillors aim to see all 18 primary schools in the town rated good or outstanding within three years.

In a letter sent to parents, Martin Pretlove, chair of governors at the Willows, said: “Although the Willows has made good progress, further work must be carried out and sustained to achieve ‘good’ and Mr Tobin’s experience of leading Merrylands Primary School to achieve ‘good’ will be invaluable.

“I hope that we will be able to work closely together with Merrylands Primary School, which will enable both schools to continue to improve the education we offer to the children.”

Headteacher David leaves role for ‘personal reasons’

EDUCATION bosses insist Mr Bridge’s departure was for personal reasons.

An official at County Hall said the governors looked at a number of options after his resignation and decided to appoint a trusted executive head rather than draft in a full-time replacement.

A spokesman for Essex County Council said: “Sean Tobin has been appointed as executive headteacher of Willows Primary School following the resignation of the previous headteacher David Bridge.

“David’s decision to resign was entirely a personal decision and undertaken within the correct timescales for headteacher resignations.

“The governing body of Willows Primary School undertook a full consideration of options and, in agreement with the governing body of Merrylands Primary School, appointed Sean Tobin as executive headteacher over both schools with effect from the 1st September 2014. This decision has the full support of the Basildon Excellence Panel.”

Addressing parents and pupils in his last online blog, Mr Bridge said: “I hope you will provide Mr Tobin with the same support and enthusiasm that you have shown to me.”

Mr Tobin was handpicked for the role at the Willows Primary School after securing a good Ofsted rating for Merrylands, and helping transform the primary into one of the most oversubscribed schools in the borough.