THE headteacher at the centre of a hate campaign has returned to school and said: "It is a new year and I just want to put it all behind me."

Tracey Jackson, head of Northern Primary School in Bacup, refused to discuss the incidents which happened at the school but said: "I am glad to be back.

"It has been a wonderful return. I have had lots of hugs and kisses from children and parents and many messages of support, letters and cards".

Mrs Jackson, 37, was on sick leave before Christmas but refused to say if that was linked to the incidents. These included hate mail, abusive graffiti and dog dirt smeared on her car. Rossendale police are investigating the allegations.

But a row has now broken out over claims made by Nick Stratton, the present chairman of governors, that the school was in special measures before Mrs Jackson was appointed 18 months' ago.

Although he did not say the school was in Ofsted special measures, Michael Carr, former chairman of governors at Northern Primary, said it was how the comments had been interpreted.

The former Ribble Valley MP said: "Northern School was never in special measures. Does Mr Stratton understand what being in special measures actually means?

"It means, essentially, that a school is failing and a package of measures is put in place to remedy the identified problem areas, with regular monitoring by the local education authority and a further Ofsted inspection held before the school have be taken out of special measures.

"Northern School was never failing."

He said the pupils who had achieved the excellent SAT results had been identified as a potentially high performing class when they joined the school.

Mr Carr said: "Their excellent results are a credit to the teachers who have taught them since joining the school and a testament to the children themselves."

However, Mr Stratton hit back, saying: "I did not say the school was in Ofsted special measures but it was in measures imposed by the local education authority because of management problems."

A spokesman for Lancashire County Council said: "Two years' ago the school was receiving special support from the local authority and this support led to the appointment of associate head John Hughes and later the appointment of Tracey Jackson.

"The school has never been in special measures, but the chairman of governors is quite right to say the school has made significant progress since the appointment of the new headteacher. "