A SENIOR union official working at Eastbourne School has spoken about the mystery suspension of its headteacher, Karen Pemberton.

It was revealed last month that Ms Pemberton had been suspended after a council-commissioned audit reported "serious concerns" around its management.

Only weeks before she was hailed by new acting head Eamonn Farrar as one of the driving forces behind a significant improvement in standards.

Teacher Terry Bladen, Darlington secretary and a former national president of the National Union of Schoolmasters/Union of Women Teachers, said: "Nobody at the school seems to know why she's been suspended. The staff wonder why one minute they're being praised to the heavens and the next minute they're down on the floor being kicked."

A council spokesman said the investigation was continuing. It plans to close Eastbourne and Hurworth Maths and Computing College to build a new school at Yarm Road.