The issue of a former head of a school in Radstock is once more in the news, after it was the focus of two articles on a new education site.

Pepe Hart was head teacher of The Academy of Trinity Primary School in Radstock for 10 years, until she resigned in December 2015.

While she was head she commissioned a statue to commemorate the loss of the life of black teenager Stephen Laurence, which was unveiled in 2013 by his mother Doreen.

But after she left, the statue was allegedly damaged and then thrown away by contractors. That action has been picked up by the new whistle-blower education web site, Education Uncovered, with questions being asked if this was an implied act of racism.

It published a first article in the middle of August, quoting supporters of Ms Hart that the statue had been deliberately: " written off as the academy chain running it removed all evidence of her long-running headship there. "

The row moved to social media with hundreds of posts including one which read; " It really is outrageous! Not only a BAME head teacher treated badly but also a statue of a BAME child. What has gone on here and who is accountable? "

The head of the Trust which now runs the school, the Midsomer Norton Schools Partnership gave a statement to Nub News.

Alun Williams said: " I have responded to questions asked about the removal of a statue in 2016 from the Trinity Church School site. Unfortunately the statue was damaged beyond repair by contractors and was removed. The school now has some art work in the building that demonstrates its continued commitment to peace, respect for different faiths/races, inclusivity and challenges prejudice. The school received a 'good' judgement from Ofsted in 2018 following an inadequate judgement in 2016. "

But the issue continues to make headlines with a second article published on the education web site HERE : the Education Uncovered website

In that article Mr Williams said: "The suggestion that the trust is 'racist' is ridiculous. We run a rich variety of primary and secondary schools and are proud of the multicultural demographic of our staff and pupils."