A DEMONSTRATION has been staged outside a Kent school in support of a former deputy head teacher who claims she was unfairly dismissed from her post.

Parents and pupils held protest at Painter's Ash school at Northfleet following lessons on Monday afternoon.

Former teacher Anne Jago, 61, from Knights Croft, New Ash Green, said parents who were supporting her efforts to get her case thoroughly investigated have collected nearly 400 names on two petitions.

They will be sent to Education Secretary Ruth Kelly and Kent County Council strategic director for education, Graham Badman.

Mrs Jago, who worked at the school for 30 years, claims her position there was made impossible after raising safety concerns about a school trip.

She was later dismissed from her role on health grounds after suffering from clinical depression which she claims was brought on by the internal investigation.

She took the case to tribunal but withdrew it before the case was heard.

Mrs Jago said: "I am heartbroken to have had to leave my primary school in disgrace after giving virtually my whole working life to the school. I believe the blot on my excellent school record and the slur on my character are totally unjustified."

A spokesman for Kent County Council said: "This is a personnel issue and because many of the details are confidential, KCC cannot comment fully. However, Mrs Jago was dismissed from Painters Ash Primary School in August last year.

"Mrs Jago brought a number of claims before an employment tribunal but withdrew all of these claims before the hearing date. To the best of our knowledge, Mrs Jago was in receipt of legal advice throughout this process."