Parents at Simon Marks Jewish Primary School in Hackney have complained of being “kept in the dark” over the situation of head teacher Nicole Delamere.

Ms Delamere, who took charge in September 2008, did not return to school after half term and parents say they have not been told why.

Speaking anonymously, one parent said: “When Ms Delamere was sick in the summer, they told us, but this time no one has told us anything.” Letters were being sent out by deputy head Norma Blair, with no explanation as to why they were not coming from Ms Delamere.

“Many children and valued members of staff are leaving the school and parents are feeling unsettled.”

Mrs Blair was reinstated in August after being suspended while the Learning Trust, which runs schools in Hackney, investigated allegations of misconduct. Former governors’ chair Peter Kessler claimed he was forced to step down in September because of his support for the cross-communal Jewish Community Secondary School (JCoSS).

New governors’ chair Howard Pallis said that Ms Delamere was on “sick leave.

“We are always trying our best to inform parents of what’s going on. People come and go all the time in any school.”