A SCHOOL has laid to rest claims that its head teacher was asked to leave because of poor management.

Caroline Homan left Stonar School near Atworth during the summer holidays and it was suggested that her sudden departure was a result of poor management.

Former headteacher Sue Hopkinson, who took early retirement in 1997, was back at the helm at the start of the September term.

Mrs Hopkinson said there was no suggestion that there had been problems with Mrs Homan's management of the all-girl school and her sudden departure had been an amicable one.

"She thought this was going to be the job for her, but in the end decided her strengths and skills would be better deployed elsewhere," said Mrs Hopkinson, who had been head at the school for 13 years.

A meeting was arranged by the board of governors at the beginning of August to discuss the school's future headship.

Chairman of the governors Shaughan Baldwin said: "We had a very amicable meeting and Mrs Homan decided to take a change of career."