THE interim headteacher of a village primary school appears to be at odds with a local education authority report claiming several children find it "necessary to abscond" from the premises.

Peter Shelton denies any pupils have escaped from the Churchstanton Primary School campus, despite a Somerset County Council report suggesting otherwise.

The county's report in support of a planning application for improved security measures at the school suggests there have been "a number of issues" recently with "several vulnerable children".

Somerset County Gazette:

The county council report to planners.

But Mr Shelton told the County Gazette: "The safety and security of pupils is paramount - all pupils are under full supervision by staff at all times.

"It is important to stress at the outset that no pupils have actually absconded from the school premises – this planning report outlines potential scenarios and what measures are deemed necessary should that occur, to ensure pupils’ safety.

"This proposal seeks to provide perimeter fencing as part of standard practice for school security and the safeguarding of children."

Mr Shelton was responding to our online story into the county's submission to Taunton Deane Borough Council's planning department.

It says: "Churchstanton Primary School have recently been experiencing a number of issues with several vulnerable children finding it necessary to abscond from the school premises whenever they they have the opportunity.

"Whilst the school is working hard to keep the children in the classroom and under full supervision at all times, once they have managed to escape from the classroom, the low boundary walls and gates pose no barrier.

"There are a number of roads nearby and a lot of both open farmland and dense woodland, which pose real threats to the safety of the children once they leave the premises."

The planning application to create a secure environment by enclosing the whole school, which dates from Victorian times and has listed building status, with fencing up to 1.8 metres high and several pedestrian gates has been submitted to Taunton Deane Borough Council.