A primary school’s entire governing body has stepped down in circumstances described as “mysterious” by an MP.

Governors at George Tomlinson Primary School in Leytonstone announced in a letter to parents on Wednesday (April 20) they were stepping down.

Labour MP for Leyton and Wanstead, John Cryer, said he was “surprised” by the news calling George Tomlinson a “consistently good school” with an Ofsted report to prove it.

The governors’ letter, which was later removed from the school’s website, said how the interim director of school standards, Rosalind Turner “had serious concerns about the management and school’s leadership”.

The governors of the Harrington Road primary were then given a choice between resigning and the school being issued with a formal warning notice.

A number of parents are concerned the move is paving the way for the school to turn into an academy.

Leytonstone father-of-one, Shah Ahmed, 41, said: “Parents have been kept in the dark, all these changes have happened and nobody has bothered to tell us.”

“It’s gutting because the governors are supposed to be helped by the local authority and they’ve just shafted them.”

Lynne Harrowell was made interim head teacher on March 23 after the council suggested the governors appoint her.

Three weeks after this appointment, Ms Turner, who is also a governor for Portslade Aldridge Community Academy in Brighton, expressed her concerns about the governors.

Ms Harrowell also works for Lime Academy Trust but the governors said the council “went to great lengths” to assure them the school would not be affected.

A council spokesperson said: “It is not the council's intention that the school becomes an academy as a result of the current arrangements.

“That will be a decision for the new governing body, acting in the best interests of the school’s pupils.

“The Council had a number of concerns about leadership and management standards at the school, in particular safeguarding protocols not being followed.

“We’re unable to comment further due to ongoing investigations.”

A number of parents have written to Ms Turner and the council and are planning protests should they not get a satisfactory response.