A controversial head teacher who once shocked parents by banning children talking about Christmas has taken a leave of absence just weeks into the new school year.

Jane Porter has divided opinions during her 18-year tenure as head of Whitehill Primary School in Sun Lane, Gravesend, but a letter handed out to parents today (Monday) announced a change in leadership.

Whitehill is part of the Gravesend Grammar School Academies Trust and in a message from the trust’s executive head teacher, Geoff Wybar, parents were informed of the latest change at the school.

It said: “I write to keep you up to date with what is happening at your school in terms of the short-term leadership of the school.

“Mrs Jane Porter will be taking a leave of absence and Mr Malcolm Moaby, who is currently associate head teacher at Gravesend Grammar School, will be acting head teacher during the this period.

“He will be working very closely with the rest of the existing senior leadership team at Whitehill Primary School to make sure that your children get the best education possible and continue to be happy, helpful and hardworking.”

The reason behind the decision is not known.

Mrs Porter’s methods have not always been popular – she banned children from discussing Christmas earlier than December 1 in 2013.

It is also not the first time Mrs Porter has left her post during term-time – she left her position as head of King's Farm Primary School in Cedar Avenue, Gravesend, in September last year. At the time, she was head of both King's Farm and Whitehill and Kent County Council said Mrs Porter left Kings Farm to focus on her duties at Whitehill.

Some parents complained that under her leadership, King's Farm was going in the wrong direction and in July 2014, they protested outside the school amid claims sports day had been cancelled, that special needs children had lost their support, the size of classes increased after 22 teachers quit, and school trips were cancelled along with the summer fete.

However, some praised her no-nonsense approach.

There was further controversy about exam results at both Kings Farm and Whitehill while under her charge.

Exam chiefs launched an investigation at Whitehill last summer, with “a number of” tests scrapped as a result due to “maladministration”.

A series of allegations against Kings Farm primary school also featured in a Channel 4 Dispatches investigation broadcast in June, which suggested cheating was rife across the education system from primaries to universities.

A spokeswoman for the Standards and Testing Agency, the exam regulator for primary schools, said: “Following an investigation into the administration of 2014 Key Stage 2 tests at Whitehill Primary School, a decision was made to annul a number of children’s level 3-5 reading test results and also some level 6 reading test results.

“Any instances of maladministration of the tests are completely unacceptable.”

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