A headteacher received hate mail after her staff spent a school day at Ascot, it was revealed today.

Jenny Davies, headteacher of Westborough Primary School in Westcliff, was told she was a "disgrace to the teaching profession" and "scruffy" in an anonymous note.

She received the letter after more than 70 teachers, governors and other staff at the school in Macdonald Avenue went to the races for a training day.

Ms Davies was not available for comment this morning.

Westborough's deputy headteacher Gerry Bennett confirmed that a letter had been received but added that Ms Davies had not taken it seriously.

Mrs Bennett said: "The headteacher was not angry about this letter. It was unsigned and from somebody with an anti-teaching agenda in Derbyshire. We haven't had one complaint from parents about going to Ladies' Day - we have had nothing but support."

Published Friday, June 27, 2003

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