Head who led lamb to the slaughter gets old job back

A headteacher who resigned amid controversy over a decision to send a lamb reared by her pupils to slaughter has been reinstated.

Andrea Charman stepped down from her post at Lydd Primary School in Romney Marsh, Kent, in February for "personal reasons", Kent County Council said. She is returning after being shown "overwhelming support" from the local community, it added.

Mrs Charman was fiercely criticised by parents and animal rights campaigners over the decision to cull the lamb, named Marcus. They said it was heartless to allow children to look after the lamb before it was sent to an abattoir and for its meat to be sold off at auction.Sarah Hohler, the council's cabinet member for children, families and education, said: "The community has spoken and made their feelings known loud and clear. There is overwhelming support for her. Under her guidance the school made tremendous progress and I know she will relish the opportunity to continue that work and do her best for the children and staff."

Mrs Charman said at the time of the slaughter that the school council, staff, the governing body and most parents had supported her decision. She said it was the pupils who voted in favour of selling the lamb's meat to raise money to buy more animals for the school.

A council spokesman said it was not yet known when Mrs Charman will be returning to the 250-pupil school.