The head teacher of a troubled school where half the staff left their posts in a little over a year has "taken time away for personal reasons".

The temporary departure of Halling primary's Soumaya Selmi comes after a formal review was requested to investigate the high turnover and complaints made by former employees.

Trustees contacted the Regional Schools Commissioner last month expressing their concerns and asking for "independent support".

Since January last year, out of a total of 45, 15 staff have left.

And as we previously reported before Easter, a further seven were due to go after handing in their notices.

In a letter to parents from the trustees and governors on Friday, it was revealed Miss Selmi's role will be shared between two other heads in the interim period.

Heather Overton will take responsibility from Monday to Wednesdays and Karen Trowell will take over on Thursday and Fridays, Both are experienced primary school heads who have worked closely together previously.

Mrs Overton is the former head of Gateway primary in Dartford and a director of the trust, while Mrs Trowell is the current head of Sutton at Hone CoE Primary, an academy within the trust.

The letter ended: "Please be assured we are working tirelessly to make sure Halling Primary School is an excellent place for children to learn, be safe and enjoy."

It is signed by Tim Muggridge, of Cliffe Woods Academy board of trustees, and Nicki Kessel, of the Halling local governing body. The trust has run the school since April 2019.

Parents speaking to KentOnline previously said they were concerned with the high turnover of staff, especially for a small village school.

In December, KentOnline approached the trust on the issue of retaining staff and was told "it was common to see a natural turnover of staff when schools change status from local authority to independent or academy".

Long-serving former chairman of governors Mark Tickner left after 25 years last summer citing "irreconcilable differences" with Miss Selmi.

Last month, a letter from Antonia Nunns, chairman of trustees, questioned whether staff were "willing and able to rise to the challenge" of implementing improvements the trust identified when it took charge in April 2019.

In response, a statement co-signed by former employees said her comments had left them "devastated, hurt and angered".

The trust declined to comment on Miss Selmi's time away and said the commissioner's 30-day review is not ready for publication.

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