THE chairman of the PTA at Lifton Primary claims that parents will picket the school if the headteacher returns after the Easter break.

Although the headteacher Terry West has supporters, some parents are unhappy.

They are putting pressure on the education authority to remove Mr West, 50, who has been on sick leave for two months and plans to return for the summer term which begins on May 2.

Some parents say if Mr West returns they will keep their children off and look for a replacement school.

Twenty children left at the end of summer term last year and just 89 pupils remained to be taught at the small village school.

An anonymous leaflet has been circulated in the area — it is headed: 'Mr West has got to go. Act now and support your school. Help your children.'

It questions Mr West's teaching ability and says that an Ofsted report two years ago highlighted problems with teaching in class four.

The parents say they have lost confidence in Mr West, who was appointed headteacher in January, 1996, and want acting head Martin Reynolds to continue in the role.

The main findings of the Ofsted report found the primary school provided a sound quality of education for its pupils but said it also had 'many strengths and weaknesses'.

In the inspector's key issues for action he said the school should aim to raise pupils' attainment in reading, science, and religious education at Key Stage 2.

Chairman of the parents' association Sarah Ramplin said there had been ' a lot of unhappiness about the situation'.

Mrs Ramplin said she would be unhappy if Mr West returned next term.

'I have written to the governors and I am sure the letter has been passed on to the education authority,' she said.

'If things are not resolved, then I am sure there will be a picket outside the school.'

Chairman of governors Vicky Glenn, who has two children at the school, said: 'I am aware of the parents action and aware of their concerns about Mr West.

'The governing body is doing all it can to resolve the situation and make sure a fair investigation is carried out.'

Mrs Glenn said that 'problems' had arisen in May last year and that there was a 'rush' at the end of the summer term when 21 children left.

'However, ten did return in the autumn for one reason or another but that still left a net loss of 16 pupils.'

Mr West has the support of parents Peter and Jane Cooley, who have four children, and said they had been happy with the school and him.

'We were aware of the original concerns and sent a letter of support to Mr West about six months ago,' said Mr Cooley.

'We will have had four children going through the school and all have been well catered for from an educational view.'

A county council spokesman told the Times there had been a 'dramatic drop' in the numbers of pupils over the last two years.

He said: 'The education authority will be reviewing the situation and Mr Reynolds will be returning as acting head for the first week of the summer term.

'The acting head is doing a marvellous job and our primary role as LEA is liaising with the school to ensure the best possible education for the children there.'

The spokesman said that Tony Smith, the county council's director of education, had received one letter of complaint to date.

Mr West was unavailable to speak to the Times this week.