A primary school is advertising for an £85,000 a year headteacher after the former head and chairman of governors left suddenly last year.

In the latest newsletter from Garfield Primary School in Wimbledon, the school said former headteacher Yvonne Norman had left by mutual agreement and it was now recruiting for the post to start in September.

The sudden departure of Mrs Norman and chairman of governors Amanda Stuart Fisher left parents demanding answers.

Mary-Jane Taylor was hired in November as a temporary headteacher of Garfield Primary School after Yvonne Norman left for ‘personal reasons’.

From November: New headteacher brought in to Garfield Primary School after sudden departure of Yvonne Norman

Miss Taylor was replaced by another interim headteacher John Croker at the beginning of the year who is said to commute from his home in Bath and cannot stay longer than the end of the summer term.

A mother of a child in Year three said: “The chaos that could have engulfed the school has not materialised.

“The interim headteacher has been a real boon to the school and has been very popular.

“We are very sad he can’t stay.”

The advert for a new headteacher, posted on the eteach website, said the school governors wish to appoint a permanent new headteacher starting from September this year.

The salary is detailed as between £71,000 and £85,000 for a full time, permanent contract for an ‘exceptional and visionary headteacher’.

Mrs Norman headed the school for four-and-a-half years before her departure.