PARENTS are still waiting to know why a school's headteacher resigned - seven months after she left during an audit investigation.

But the chairman of governors at Witton Park High School and Technology College, Blackburn, has pledged to reveal the reason for Heather Jamison's departure very soon - once a disciplinary investigation has been completed.

The head resigned at the end of the summer term in July, less than a year after taking over.

Her deputy, Gwen Onyon, was installed as acting head at the Buncer Lane school.

Police confirmed that an audit was being carried out within the school "following complaints made about the headteacher", but said they were not involved in any probe.

In August, chairman of governors Coun Malcolm Doherty pledged that parents would be told why the head had left once auditors had completed their probe into "financial affairs" at the school.

But, although the council has confirmed that has now been done, Coun Doherty said he could not reveal the findings to parents until the results of a separate disciplinary investigation into her conduct have been considered.

He said: "The audit investigation has been completed and presented to the governors, but we cannot comment on the findings until we see the findings of a disciplinary investigation which, hopefully, will be very soon.

"I can understand parents' concerns, but we will tell them what's going on as soon as we can, and I would stress that the school has not been affected and is doing very well."

The percentage of pupils at the school achieving five GCSE A* to C grades went up from 59per cent in 2005 to 60per cent least year, and the school was ranked in the top 200 nationally for its value added score, which measures pupils' progress.

Parents said that until they knew the circumstances behind Ms Jamison's exit, the school could not fully move on.

They include Conrad Hodkinson, whose step daughter attends Witton.

"They've said they will tell us, so they have got to back that up so the school can go forward," he said.

Teaching union the NAS/UWT is calling for "a prompt announcement as to why the school's experienced head has resigned".

Mrs Onyon stressed: "I'm sympathetic to parents, but this unfortunate matter is not affecting our progress. We've had a glowing Ofsted, great GCSE results and our value added score is in the top 5per cent in the UK. We are moving forward very well."