Slaughtered lamb teacher protest

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/england/kent/8513594.stm

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Parents and pupils at a Kent school held a protest to try and stop their head teacher from resigning after a row about the slaughter of a school lamb.

Andrea Charman taught her final day at Lydd School, but parents and pupils chanted "save our head" at the gates.

Mrs Charman was criticised in September after sending Marcus the lamb - who had been hand-reared by pupils - to slaughter, despite calls to save him.

The council said Mrs Charman had resigned for "personal reasons".

In a statement, Kent County Council said: "The governing body would like to thank Mrs Charman for all her hard work during her time at the school."

Comedian Paul O'Grady, who lives near Ashford, had offered to buy Marcus.

The children fed Marcus by hand

But Mrs Charman went ahead with sending the animal to slaughter, which was part of a project to teach children about the food cycle.

At the time she said the decision had the support of the school council, staff, the governing body and most parents at the 250-pupil school.

Parents and pupils who took part in the protest said they were disappointed to see Mrs Charman leave.

Chair of governors Geoff Marsh said: "This is a sad day for us, but we wish her the very best for the future."

Kent councillor Sarah Hohler said: "I would want to assure everybody in the strongest possible terms that the governing body, school staff and Kent County Council have absolute faith and confidence in Mrs Charman.

"We are very sorry to see her leave."