Former governors at a troubled Bradford primary school have hit back at the authorities about their removal.

An interim executive board (IEB), chaired by Margaret Platts, the former head teacher at Belle Vue Girls’ School, has been installed at Feversham Primary, in Bradford Moor, for the foreseeable future.

Six ousted governers have responded by criticising how Bradford Council and private firm Education Bradford handled the situation.

In a statement, released by former governor Akhtar Khan, they said: “The time and effort we put in as volunteers, in addition to our work commitments, to address the issues surrounding Feversham was second to none.”

It said governors appealed to the Schools Secretary against attempts to impose an IEB in 2003 and again this year.

“No support has been given to the school or governing body by Education Bradford or the Council since 2004.

“They’re hiding behind a few unsatisfactory teachers and held the governing body to ransom.

“They didn’t allow the governing body to conduct capability or disciplinary measures which has hampered our children’s education.”

They accuse local education authority governors of harbouring their own agendas and one was suspended for “persistent, political interference”.

The school lost out financially because of the authorities’ interference in attempts to resolve an issue involving head teacher Rashidah Butt, who returned to the school in January after extended leave, they claim.

The statement said three governing body chairmen were forced to resign because of pressures exerted by Education Bradford and the Council.

The support of Education Bradford’s director of school improvement, Lesley Hart, is also called into question.

“If she was so concerned about the children’s improvement, how many times did she come into school or contact anyone from the senior leadership team?”

The group added: “It’s an honour and a privilege that we’ve fought all the way against the irresponsible behaviour perpetrated by Education Bradford and the Local Authority.”

In response, a spokesman for Education Bradford said: “The former governors used their right to appeal to Ofsted and the DCSF against Education Bradford’s intended actions including a proposal to form an IEB.

“However, these appeals were not supported and the actions of Education Bradford in establishing an IEB have been approved by the Secretary of State.

“We are looking forward to working with the IEB and the school in order to help bring about rapid improvement at the school.”

A spokesman for Bradford Council said: “The Council is supportive of the actions taken by Education Bradford in applying for an IEB. The Council considers that the decision of the Secretary of State to grant the application will assist Education Bradford and the School in making any necessary improvements.”