Governors of the Beis Yaakov Primary School in Colindale, north-west London, have sought to reassure parents following the sudden departure of its chairman Jonathan Rabson.

Mr Rabson and fellow-governors Aryeh Melinek and Chaim Halvieim announced their resignation without explanation last week.

It prompted an online petition from some parents demanding their reinstatement and calling for an explanation from the school.

Last Friday, new chairman Andrew Cohen and his three fellow trustees wrote to tell parents that they had a "clear strategic plan for the future of the school. We intend to appoint additional foundation governors recruited from parents who have children in the school and to build a dynamic and committed team". Beis Yaakov would "thrive in the successful direction achieved by our outstanding staff", they promised.

Mr Rabson has not commented.

The state-aided strictly Orthodox girls primary was rated "good" by Ofsted in a recent report, dropping from its former "outstanding" rating.

Inspectors noted that pupils are "taught to have the utmost respect for people of different backgrounds and for British institutions and values".

Beis Yaakov's Jewish studies were rated outstanding by independent Jewish inspectors.