EGGAR'S pupils can expect to return to school in September with a governing "team to die for" at the helm.
According to local county councillor Tony Ludlow, Hampshire County Council is well on the way to appointing five LEA governors who, he assures, "will be independent and fair minded" so that any action taken in the future can be seen to be fair and even handed.
"We have five candidates who would form a superb core of any governing team," said Dr Ludlow who assured that the LEA was doing everything it could to make sure the situation at Eggar's School returns to normal as soon as possible. "It is important for the future of the children and for the reputation and success of the school," he added.
There will be elections once school has resumed to complete the team with two teacher, one non-teaching staff and one head-teacher representatives, together with six parent governors.
"I am quite sure Eggar's has a great future but the questions raised by the governors have to be resolved as soon as possible," said Dr Ludlow.
Feelings are running high with some parents and staff keen to defend the reputation of the school and other believing there is no smoke without fire.
The fact that some 75 per cent of staff are believed to have resigned during the past two years, has led some to believe there is a problem to be resolved. While Dr Ludlow confirmed that he had read the review of strategic management and control at Eggar's undertaken recently by LEA inspectors, he was unable to comment further.
However, one parent, who does not wish to be named, says he has moved the younger of his two boys away from the school due to concerns about the apparent drain of staff and resulting instability of teaching, which he hopes the LEA are going to address.
He has expressed concern also over what he perceives as a difference in the treatment of boys and girls. "The girls seem to progress well while the boys do not, and I think the current headteacher is not helping that," he said.
Another un-named parent criticises what she sees as "ineffective" methods of discipline in the school with trouble makers receiving favours instead of punishment.
Former deputy head teacher, Ernie Lloyd, she says, is "sorely missed" as the only senior management teacher who supported fair discipline.
Pupils were upset too that many of their favourite teachers had felt impelled to leave, due, she believes, "to the regime under which they were required to work."
This parent is not alone in wanting to know the real reasons behind the mass resignation of governors and the drain of staff and is urging the LEA to let people know exactly how it intends to restore confidence in the school.