DOZENS of parents have signed a petition demanding the reinstatement of a headteacher suspended amid allegations of exam irregularities.

Headmaster Mr Mike Duce was asked to leave Peel Brow Primary School in Ramsbottom following the allegations concerning the Standard Attainment Tests (SATs).

The Local Education Authority is now carrying out an investigation into the claims.

Although details of the allegations are unclear, some parents have expressed outrage at Mr Duce's suspension, claiming that their children's education is suffering.

A group of 30 parents held an informal meeting at the school on Tuesday (June 5), the day the Bury Times exclusively revealed that the long-serving headteacher had been suspended.

Parents' and Teachers' Association member, Mrs Gill Wilson, who has two children at the school, said: "The majority of parents are behind Mr Duce. His past record has been excellent and for him to be treated in this way is outrageous. "The school is functioning not only with one less member of staff but also a valued and competent teacher which is having knock-on effects on the children's education.

"We have started a petition for his immediate reinstatement and I am sure that it will be signed by most parents."

The parents drew up a statement which will be presented to the local education authority and the school's governing body.

It reads: "We are raising a petition for the governing body to present to the investigating body as the majority of parents are supporting Mr Duce at this time.

"We feel the allegations have been made with a view to causing the maximum amount of distress and disruption to Mr Duce, teachers, pupils and parents. Mr Duce is a devoted headteacher to Peel Brow and his years of experience and achievements at the school are exemplary."

However, another parent at the school, who contacted the Bury Times anonymously, said: "I am very concerned and angry. Looking at last year's governors' report and the glowing Ofsted report certainly makes me wonder about the validity of previous years' exams."

Only last month the school, which has 246 pupils, received a glowing Ofsted report in which government inspectors praised its high academic standards.

Mr Duce, who has been the headteacher for more than 20 years, was described as the school's performance "motivator" and said to provide "very good leadership".

In recent years it has achieved "above satisfactory" Ofsted reviews, with an outstanding report published last month, where pupils were said to be achieving satisfactory grades or above, with 11-year-olds gaining above average or well above average marks in science, mathematics and English in National Curriculum tests.

A recently published governors' report commented: "Once again our pupils gained enviable SATs results."

Chairman of governors, Mrs Barbara Jack, said: "We are aware of allegations of management irregularities in relation to the administration of SATs.

"I have asked the local education authority to investigate and to comment further at this stage could jeopardise the investigative process."