Parents defend inquiry teacher

The parents of pupils at a Mid Wales school have today rallied round their headteacher who has been suspended from her post.

Eirios Hall, headteacher of Ardwyn Nursery and Infants School in Welshpool, has been suspended pending the outcome of an inquiry by Powys County Council.

Council bosses say they cannot divulge why she has been suspended because it could jeopardise the internal investigation.

Parents have been told about her suspension but not the nature of the allegations against her.

Kerie Chapman, whose daughter attends the school, said Mrs Hall was a "fantastic teacher and genuinely nice person".

She added: "She is the nicest person you could ever meet and this whole thing is terrible. My four-year-old daughter attends the school and absolutely loves it and loves Mrs Hall.

"We don't know what the allegations are but it is disgusting that this has all come out while the fantastic report the school got from Estyn inspectors is never mentioned.

"She has worked so hard at the school and all the hard work will be forgotten because of this. It is so unfair."

Another parent David Jones said: "It's all a bit of a shock really. She is a very pleasant, nice woman who works hard."

One parent, who did not want to be named, said: "We don't know what it is all about but I do know Mrs Hall is fantastic."