AN action plan to improve working relationships at a school hit by allegations of bullying and harassment among staff has been put in place.

Colonel Stephen Padgett, the chair of the interim executive board (IEB) at Richmond School, said he was pleased with the progress being made to install good governance at the school.

The action plan was adopted at the start of the current school year following discussion between the IEB, senior teachers, staff members, and professional associations and unions.

The move followed several months of upheaval which saw the entire governing body resign and 36 staff members tell to an internal survey that they had been bullied or harassed by someone in authority at the school.

Col Padgett told The Northern Echo: "IEB colleagues, county council officials and myself are pleased with progress being made in the delivery of appropriate and effective governance for Richmond School."

He said the plan was intended to "promote good, effective working relationships between all those who work at the school", adding: "It is one of the ways the school is responding to the issues highlighted by the staff survey."

The commander of nearby Catterick Garrison Army base said preparations for the future governance of the school after the IEB stood down were an important consideration.

"We are keen to encourage engagement from members of the community, including parents and staff, as transition occurs from the IEB to a shadow governing body and then to a full governing body constituted in the usual way."

Although he admitted that numbers entering the sixth form were down on the previous year, he said students at the school had achieved good results in GCSE, AS and A-Level exams - and the vast majority going on to further education were taking up places at their first choice university.

He added: "Richmond School continues to be a good school where many capable staff help pupils with a wide range of skills and abilities to achieve their potential.

"As results show, many of our efforts deliver success but we strive always for enhancement, across all areas of our enterprise."

The interim executive board (IEB) was formed in March after the previous governing body resigned when it was issued with a warning notice from North Yorkshire County Council.

Documents have since revealed that the former governors believed the headmaster Ian Robertson was acting without authority - and resigned when the local authority failed to back their efforts to address their concerns.