Former pupils of a suspended head teacher have jumped to her defence - with many saying the troubled school’s problems are down to children who do not want to learn.

Helena Sullivan-Tighe has been relieved of her duties at Community College Whitstable while an investigation into her future is carried out.

Parents learned of her suspension from the £85,000 post in a letter sent out by chair of governors Clarissa Williams on Monday.

A review into the school's performance was carried out last month following poor exam results and “ongoing concerns” about the CCW, which was rated as “requiring improvement” by Ofsted in March.

Dozens of ex-students have reacted to the news, with many defending Mrs Sullivan-Tighe on Facebook, saying how much she helped them when they attended the school in Bellevue Road.

Jessica Wall said: “There is nothing wrong with this school. Stop blaming teachers - it’s the children that don’t want to listen and learn.”

Odette Darge praised her, saying: “I have Mrs Sullivan-Tighe to thank for my fantastic GCSE and A-Level grades and turning my life around when I was a tearaway teenager at CCW.

"I was such a bad pupil and did everything to get kicked out but she always stood by me and had faith in me..." - former pupil Michaela Hendle

"She was a fantastic role model to me, a teacher dedicated to her job and the most significant adult in my school years that changed my life.”

Michaela Hendle added: “This lady was a massive part of my life at school.

"I was such a bad pupil and did everything to get kicked out but she always stood by me and had faith in me.

"I’m now 27 and I wouldn’t be who I am without her putting all her effort and support into me.”

Tasha Hitchcock said she is not surprised schools struggle when they cannot punish pupils.

She said: “Do these people ever think it is to do with the pupils not the school?

“What do these morons expect will happen if proper measures of punishment cannot be used to keep the children in school and paying attention?

“It’s no wonder schools are failing with a lack of discipline allowed anymore.”

However, not everyone backed Mrs Sullivan-Tighe, with some people questioning why it has taken so long for action to be taken.

Jo Mills claimed: “The head is 100% responsible for the problems in that school and the students have suffered.”

Louise Johns said: “This isn’t a surprise - the children are being seriously let down.”

And Jackie Howson added: “CCW has its challenges and some fantastic staff working there.

"Hopefully with the right leadership they can make progress.”

In 2011 Mrs Sullivan-Tighe oversaw an £18 million redevelopment of the school, which has almost 800 pupils on its roll.

The governing body is now looking to appoint a temporary executive head teacher to lead the school forward.