Head goes following police inquiry

Paul Clemmens handed in his notice as head of St Joseph's RC Primary School, Newton Aycliffe, on Friday.

He had been suspended on full pay since May 24, but education chiefs would not comment on the reasons for his departure.

Police said they were taking no action after investigating allegations into computer misuse.

A concerned parent contacted The Northern Echo complaining they were being kept in the dark.

She said: "There were all sorts of rumours that he had been suspended, but the school won't tell us anything."

A spokesman for the school governors said: "The headteacher did tender his resignation and that has been accepted by the chairman of the board of governors.

"The governors are confident that the school is in the capable hands of the acting headteacher and that all end-of-term arrangements are progressing smoothly."

As soon as the school had become aware of the complaint, it had cooperated fully with the police and Durham education authority, and the headteacher had been suspended immediately, pending further investigations.

He said: "The school's governing body is due to meet this evening to confirm the chair's action in accepting the headteacher's resignation and is in the process of informing parents of his departure.

"Neither the chairman of the governors nor Durham education authority is in a position to make any further comment at this stage."

Police spokesman George Oliver said: "I can confirm there has been a police investigation into allegations of misuse of school computers at St Joseph's.

"We consulted the Crown Prosecution Service and, on their advice, we are taking no further action on this matter.

"The investigation revealed nothing of a criminal nature."

Mr Clemmens, of Middridge, County Dur-ham, has been a popular and highly regarded headteacher. Last night, he declined to comment on the background to his departure except to say it was for "personal reasons"