Southampton’s education boss has defended the principal of the troubled Oasis Mayfield Academy and said she had the “full support” of the local authority.

In a letter to all Southampton head teachers and councillors Clive Webster said Ruth Johnson has “responded quickly” to “restore calm” and “reassure pupils.”

However, teaching union leaders insist serious tensions remain at the school that is now closed for half-term and children’s education continues to be disrupted. One of the main problems continues to be teachers and staff missing the link bus operating between the school’s two sites.

Many parents and pupils have posted messages on The Daily Echo website complaining about timetabling and organisation of the academy, formed from the merger of Grove Park and Woolston schools. Parents of pupils – especially those whose sons have been excluded – have also said they have had little or no success when trying to contact the school to speak to someone about their concerns.

Pupils, particularly those studying for their GCSEs, have described how their future prospects are being ruined because of teachers failing to turn up in time for lessons and a succession of supply teachers.

Mr Webster wrote the school had already: n enhanced the leadership team n reassured pupils with extra ‘student voice’ sessions n held a meeting for all parents n held a meeting with teacher unions n sent out letters to all parents n dealt with disruptive pupils in ‘full discussion’ with their parents However, union boss Ron Clooney said he was “saddened” by the letter because the local authority – which appointed Oasis to run the academy in the first place – failed to accept any responsibility. He said that despite the academy being a state funded independent school, the local authority still had the power to exert pressure on Oasis to sort out the mess.

“It’s a mess. It needs fixing. Let’s fix it now before it is too late. For some of the children it will be too late and that is a scandal,” he said.

“It is as if everybody is hiding their heads in the sand and the parents and pupils are not being heard.

“These pupils are the sons and daughters of taxpayers and their parents have every right to have a say in what is happening to their children’s education.

“These children, especially in Year 11 are suffering a terrible disruption to their education, and that is a disgrace.”

Mr Webster’s letter comes after Ofsted, the body that inspects and regulates schools, confirmed it was looking into complaints about the troubled school.

Southampton Itchen MP John Denham has also called for the school to call in extra education experts to help run the academy.

The public outcry over the academy comes after Year 10 and Year 11 pupils went on the rampage and caused hundreds of pounds of damage to the Woolston campus in protest at the way the school is organised and run.

Head teacher Ruth Johnson said five pupils have been permanently excluded – including one who threatened a teacher with a knife in a separate incident – since the beginning of term.

She denied that there have been any management problems. She said that while there were no problems with students from Woolston and Grove Park merging together, there were some issues with students having “some very firm and clear boundaries” imposed on them.