REDBRIDGE council has failed to respond to a request from the Guardian to provide a statement explaining the absence of a headteacher from his school.

Parents of children at Roding Primary in Roding Lane North, Woodford Green, were sent a letter on Wednesday telling them Graham Alderton would be absent for the next few weeks for ‘personal reasons’.

But the school has refused to comment further on the matter and a request sent to the council by the Guardian on Tuesday asking if Mr Alderton had been suspended has not been answered.