A school insists its controversial policy of keeping children in a small isolation room is within government guidelines as an “independent investigation” comes to an end.

Brompton Westbrook primary had come under fire from parents over its technique of removing unruly pupils and putting them in a blacked-out “cupboard-sized” space - sometimes for days at a time families claimed.

Trustees at the academy in Kings Bastion appointed their own investigators and said their inquiries into the “child abuse” allegations had concluded.

But while the a statement said the trustees had “full confidence in all staff of the school to continue their outstanding work” they did not reveal if any staff would face disciplinary action.

Now Medway council has written to the Department for Education, asking what further action it will take in the matter.

A previous inquiry by the authority concluded that four staff had “cases to answer” for gross misconduct and made recommendations to the school about what action it should take.

Disciplinary proceedings had been started against at least one member of staff but not completed.

The authority could not could not impose the recommendations as the school became an academy on October 1 and no longer under the authority’s control.

As we previously reported, the investigation began after a complaint to school inspectors Ofsted about the way a child had been treated.

A number of parents contacted us because they were unhappy about their child’s treatment in the isolation room and the effect it had had on them.

A spokesman for the school said yesterday the independent investigation into allegations of improper use of isolation and internal exclusion techniques has now concluded.

The school said its procedures were known to and recommended by independent specialist professionals and those employed by the council.

“When dealing with children whose behaviour is extreme, the school has always acted within the remit of the DfE guidance and the Education Act 1996.

"In doing so the school has actually prevented a number of children from being permanently excluded from school and helped them reach the appropriate standard in their learning for their age,” said the spokesman.

“We are very fortunate to have some extremely experienced staff members who go above and beyond the call of duty to support pupils and their families and other schools."

The school confirmed that the DfE has been told about the outcome of the investigation.

The four teachers are Jane Heyes, executive head teacher, who is also a director of the Westbrook Trust, Sue Mason, acting head of the academy, Karen Price, special needs coordinator and assistant head and Jon Carthy, who was assistant head at Westbrook, and is currently acting head at Byron Primary.

A Medway Council spokesman said: “A whistleblower contacted Ofsted with allegations that children at Brompton Westbrook were locked in a small room when they were naughty.

"We undertook a safeguarding investigation with the police. Following this, the council carried out a further investigation into the practice at the school.

"The council will now write to the Department for Education to ask what further action they will take in this matter" - Medway council

“When our officers visited the school, they were shown a small room the size of a cupboard of around 7ft by 4ft in size with a lock on its door. The door was removed that day under the supervision of Medway Council staff so the small room could not be locked again.

“Our investigation, which included taking numerous statements from teachers, pupils and parents past and present, concluded that there was a case of gross misconduct to be answered and four staff should be subject to a disciplinary hearing, which could result in dismissal.

“This report has to remain confidential, as we would not wish to do anything that could identify the children involved, or the whistleblower.

"We understand the school has now released a statement saying that they have full confidence in their staff and that no action will be taken.

"The council will now write to the Department for Education to ask what further action they will take in this matter.”