​LYDD Primary School’s new head teacher has revealed she was told to stop working at six other schools in order to to so she could help unite a ‘fractured community’.

Staff and pupils were left shocked after former principal Andrea Charman stepped down from her role following the 

controversial decision to send Marcus, the school sheep, to slaughter.

She has been replaced by troubleshooting head teacher, Penny Haynes, who specialises in helping troubled education establishments to improve 

standards and prospects.

The 62-year-old is the only advisory head teacher for Shepway and Ashford and was ordered by education bosses to stop working at six other schools so she could focus solely on Lydd Primary.

She said: “I was at six other schools when I got the call to come here.

“I was told to stop working at six other schools, them and come straight here – the other schools will have to do the best they can without me.”

Mrs Haynes became the head teacher after Mrs Charman quit her post  following the school’s decision to send a sheep from its farm to slaughter.

Pupils voted for the move which was designed to help teach youngsters about farming 

methods.

A vicious hate campaign was launched on the internet calling for Mrs Charman to be sacked.

Mrs Haynes said: “I haven’t seen the messages online and I don’t want to.

“Mrs Charman was a great head teacher and it’s a shame she felt she had to leave because the school was really beginning to improve.

“The sheep situation has fractured the local community, but it needs to move on.”

Mother-of-three Mrs Haynes will only be at Lydd Primary until the end of July when it is expected a new principal will be found in time for the new academic year.

She has vowed not to introduce too many changes during her brief stay.

She added: “The atmosphere is great here – I have received cards from pupils welcoming me and I visit every class every day. Lydd has the potential to be outstanding and it has great teachers and students.”