Parents at embattled St Joseph’s Roman Catholic Primary School this week called for head Sheila Jones to resign.

An email backed by a number of parents, sent to chairman of the governors Colette Culligan and deputy chairman Simon Napper, accuses Mrs Jones of being a liability.

The letter says: “You should be well aware now that the current head has irretrievably lost the support, confidence and trust of the overwhelming majority of parents, as well as from teaching and support staff.

“Her remaining in post will continue to damage the school’s formerly good reputation and is causing the school to fall further and further into disrepute. It also damages the good name of the church.”

Last week the Gazette revealed that governors had dismissed serious complaints about Mrs Jones but had agreed lessons needed to be learned.

Ofsted inspectors were thought to be arriving at the school this week. The school will be given 24 hours’ notice ahead of the team’s arrival.

This week a number of parents contacted the Gazette to explain why they were no longer happy with the school, which was once considered one of the best in the area.

Melissa Hopkins, of Avon Road, Devizes, whose eight-year-old daughter Athena is in Year 3, said parents are unhappy about the lack of information they were given about a complaint from a parent about how the school was run that was investigated and dismissed by governors.

She said: “We need answers. People don’t feel confident about the way the school is being run. I’m not sure my daughter is getting the best education she could.”

Another parent said she had removed her two daughters as she was unhappy with the way Mrs Jones had dealt with bullying.

Mrs Jones had declined to comment on the calls for her resignation. Jackie Clark, who teaches at a different school, sprang to her defence. She said: “Sheila is a friend and fellow believer in education. She has always seen the holistic education of children as paramount; she has a strong moral compass and this inevitably has brought her into conflict with some adults, whether employed by the school or parents of pupils at the school.”

She said that Mrs Jones was in many ways relieved the tension which had been brewing was now out in the open and she hoped the Ofsted inspection would vindicate her approach to teaching and leadership.

In a statement Mrs Culligan said: “All staff and pupil records remain confidential including those that may form part of a complaint or grievance procedure, therefore we are not permitted to make further comment relating to these allegations.”

Mr Napper declined to comment. Parish priest Eugene Philip Baptiste, who is not on the board of governors, said: “I do not want to speak to you. I only wish to speak about Jesus.”