The head teacher of a troubled Maidstone school and his teacher wife have been suspended while an investigation is carried out.

Kent County Council confirmed the development at St Francis' Catholic Primary, but stressed it is a "neutral act" and that support has been offered to head teacher David Bray and wife Siobhan.

Investigators will carry out a probe into the situation.

The school has been graded "inadequate" by Ofsted and placed in special measures.

The council believes allegations made against three female teaching assistants who were suspended and later reinstated are unfounded.

KCC education officer Simon Webb said: "The investigation into the alleged behaviour of the assistants will be completed by the end of this week.

"We can advise that the allegations made against the three ladies are believed to be unfounded and under the advice of the local authority the acting head teacher reinstated them immediately."

It also emerged this week the chairman of the governing body, Angela Black, is among three governors who resigned in the wake of the Ofsted report.

She joins vice-chairman Canon John Clark and parent governor John Jackson, who have also stepped down.

In placing the Queen's Road school in special measures, Ofsted said so far it has not seen the capacity to make urgent improvements by the management team.

Despite critical comments on leadership and the quality of teaching, the school was rated "good" for the behaviour and safety of pupils.

Reception classes received positive comments for making sure children were totally involved in their learning and a peer mentor scheme resolved many issues for youngsters.

KCC said more training and close working with the Catholic Archdiocese of Southwark is putting the school on the road to recovery. The 369-pupil school will be taken out of its control and turned into an academy.