PARENTS of children at a Penwortham primary school say they will back a school at the centre of a poison pen letter scandal.

Last week the Citizen revealed that teachers and governors at St Mary Magdalen's RC Junior School, in Buller Avenue, had received a letter calling for a teacher to be sacked.

The letter, written in childlike handwriting and containing grammatical and spelling errors, claimed that if a teacher - who the Citizen has chosen not to name - 'hits a child' in class, legal action will be taken.

It also alleged another tutor was an unfit teacher.

Headteacher Peter Gavin last week branded the letter as rubbish.

His opinions have been backed by dozens of parents, who read the story on the Citizen's front page.

They say the school is, and always has been, an excellent school. One parent, whose 14-year-old son has attended St Mary Magdalen's and six-year-old son still goes to the school, said she has nothing but admiration for the staff.

She said: "They are a very dedicated team of teachers, who do their utmost in providing the best education possible for our children.

"My elder son left the school as a well-educated, intelligent and very well-mannered child, thanks to the teaching staff at St Mary Magdalen's and is now in the top stream at secondary school.

"I have never had any problems with St Mary Magdalen's staff. If I did have a problem, I certainly wouldn't write a poison pen letter. I would talk to the teacher, or headteacher."

She added: "The person who wrote the letter claims to be from an angry group of parents - which parents?

"I have never seen or heard anything. The letter is vindictive."

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