NEW interim governors have been drafted into a Eastwood school after the previous board quit en-masse just days after being ordered to put a rapid improvement plan in place.

Southend Council raised a series of issues with the governors at Heycroft Primary School, in Benvenue Avenue, “in relation to the way the school was being managed”.

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Several warnings were issued before a formal warning notice was issued on January 19 ordering the governors to submit a “rapid improvement plan”. Days later, the entire governing body resigned.

Laurie Burton, councillor responsible for children and learning and inclusion, said: “The council applied for an Interim Executive Board immediately after the resignation of governors and I’m pleased that the Department for Education have completed their processes and since Monday the Interim Executive Board has been in place.

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“It is simply too early to discuss what will happen in the long term, beyond these immediate next steps.”

It is understood that the warnings were not linked to the quality of education at the school. However, according to the school’s finances on the Government’s website, Heycroft was spending more than they were making.

The school’s expenditure for 2021-22 was £2.16 million compared to an income of £2.11 million. However, the figures also show there was cash in reserve.