SHOCKED parents say they had no idea a Cheltenham primary school was struggling following the suspension of its head teacher.

Guardians of pupils at St Thomas More Catholic Primary said they thought all was well at the Hester's Way site as they dropped their children off yesterday.

As reported yesterday, head teacher Dominic Whyte is not at the helm going into the new term following a critical Ofsted report.

An acting head has been put in charge, while the 180-pupil school has been put in special measures.

Dennis Mitchell, who has two children at the school, in Lewis Road, said: "To be truthful I don't know much about it and I'm just shocked. My kids have always been safe and OK here.

"Mr Whyte was a man everybody got on well with."

Alisha Clark has one child at the school and said the news had come out of the blue for parents. She added: "I was quite surprised by it because I thought the school was all up to standard."

William Pargeter, 27, whose son Marley started school this week, said: "The school might be in special measures but you have confidence that they will get out of it soon."

Mr Whyte has been replaced by acting head Andrew Darby, 47.

Mr Darby, who has previously taken Gloucester's Finlay Community School out of special measures, said: "As far as we are aware, Mr Whyte is suspended pending an investigation into issues raised in the Ofsted report.

"We are looking to sustain improvements across all the school and make it the best school we can.

"There's a great community here and I have had a lot of support and positive comments since I took over."

Mr Darby is also the head teacher of Tredworth Junior School in Gloucester.

Hester's Way and Up Hatherley county councillor Simon Wheeler said the report, which has not yet been made public, criticised a lack of criminal records checks of school staff.

Mr Wheeler added: "I'm very disappointed. He is a much loved and respected head teacher and it would be very good, once this is sorted out, if he were able to move back into the position." A spokesman for Gloucestershire County Council said: "We can confirm the governing body of St Thomas More Catholic Primary School has suspended the head teacher.

"The suspension is without prejudice while investigations are carried out.

"Parents have been informed and arrangements have been made to ensure the school operates as normal.

"The county council's priority is ensuring the school has all the support it needs to improve and we have acted quickly to strengthen the school's leadership team."

Chairman of the governors Chris Gifkins has said the body is concerned by the report. Parents have been invited to attend a meeting with school bosses on Tuesday at 6pm.

■ In yesterday's Echo, we incorrectly stated Mr Whyte had "quit" his role in a picture caption. We are happy to clarify Mr Whyte has in fact been suspended.