Headteacher Beverley MartinA SCHOOL fete has caused a rift at a town primary school as a headteacher ruled the event was 'not in the children's best interest'.

The Parent Teacher Association at St Michael's Primary School, Melksham, was furious after being told they could not hold a fete on June 10 to say goodbye to the school.

Headteacher Beverley Martin and governors at the 195-pupil school, in Queensway, said only a joint fete with Lowbourne Junior School would be acceptable, as the two schools are set to merge into one in September.

A 166-name petition was handed to the headteacher calling for a goodbye fete solely for St Michael's parents and pupils, but she dismissed the request, saying the event would not be in the best interests of the children. Adding to the feeling of resentment, Mrs Martin said in a letter to parents she had received complaints from people claiming they had been intimidated or misled into signing the petition.

This week PTA chairman Kay Wakely said they had suggested a joint event celebrating the merged schools in September, but were told it was a joint fete or no fete at all.

"We were all very hurt and let down by the decision," she said.

"We are not a new school until September and needed to have a way of celebrating the old school. As a PTA we have always had our own fete.

"We can see no benefit of a joint fete when other induction activities are arranged and the children mix out of school anyway.

"As far as I understand with the petition, no pressure was put on anyone to sign it but there was no action taken as a result of it.

"We put in a lot of hard work and it does give you satisfaction as you are raising money for the school and the kids. Last year the fete raised £3,500."

The two schools will merge to become The Manor Primary School in September.

Mrs Martin told the Wiltshire Times a joint family day on both school sites, would be held in July while a reunion event for former pupils and parents was pencilled in for July 15.

The head said she felt "disappointed" at the petition and said the decision to ban the fete was made because staff had been working hard to unify the two schools.

"Unfortunately the proposal from the PTA was not in the interest of the children," she said.

"I do feel it is a shame but the PTA have to be clear that they do not run the school.

"The management is the responsibility of the head and the governors.

"The petition was done incorrectly and it was not made clear to the people who were signing what they were signing for."

The joint celebration event and the reunion have been organised by the Friends of The Manor, a new organisation set up last month.