A board of governors walked out over a hiring dispute leaving a school without a permanent headteacher.

Following the departure of Natalie Marris from Buckhurst Hill Community Primary School, the governors looked to hire an executive headteacher to step in.

While a minority of the board had their hearts set on a particular candidate, the majority disagreed.

The dispute proved irreconcilable and led to several governors walking out.

Samuel Juddah, former chairman of the board and a previous contestant on The Apprentice, said: "We didn't agree with the decision the school was taking so a group of us resigned about two weeks ago.

"Practically everyone has resigned now. I felt resigning was the best thing to do.

"We only have one interest which is the welfare of the children."

In the past two years the school has hired and then lost two headteachers, first Adam Vinton and then Mrs Marris - both of whom where deputy-heads before stepping into the top role.

Mr Juddah added: "We were in the process of securing a leadership team with a proven track record. They have an undisputed record.

"Finding head teachers is difficult in the education system."

Since the governors walked out Essex County Council applied to the Regional Schools Commissioner to establish an Interim Executive Board.

This has now been approved and members appointed.

They are charged with the usual responsibilities of a governing body, including the management of the budget, curriculum, staffing, pay and performance management and the appointment of the headteacher and deputy headteacher.

Alison Farquharson has been appointed acting headteacher. She is being supported by Sarah Noden, headteacher of Lambourne Primary school, and Peter Tidmarsh, who is the CEO of the Epping Forest MAT and previously headteacher of St John’s Buckhurst Hill.

A spokesperson for the county council said: "ECC is prioritising support to Buckhurst Hill Community Primary School and parents are being regularly kept up-to-date with plans."