A COUPLE criticised for taking their daughter out of school to appear on television say they plan to move her to another school. Richard and Hilary King were reported to school governors and welfare officers after removing seven-year-old Rebecca from Edgworth CE Methodist Primary School for a day so she could appear on ITV's This Morning show. In a letter to the Kings, headteacher Ann Bennett said the absence seemed to be a "recurring event" for Rebecca, a member of the Pat Eakets School of Dancing in Blackburn, and her four-year-old brother Matthew, who is involved in modelling.

Mr and Mrs King met Mrs Bennett to discuss the situation - but have now said that they intend to find another school for their children.

Mr King said: "The incident with Rebecca last week brought matters to a head. There were a number of matters we wanted to talk to the school about.

"During the meeting the answers we received did not allay our concerns. Suffice to say that we are of the opinion that the headmistress is not the appropriate person to be responsible for our children's education."

He said the school clearly regarded Rebecca's extra-curricular activities as unacceptable.

He said permission had been refused for him to take Rebecca out of classes 15 minutes early when she was making her next appearance, in a show at King George's Hall, Blackburn.

Mr King, who has been a teacher for 22 years said: "My concept of education is that it does not only encompass the three Rs. It is much broader than that, particularly at a younger age.

"I cannot cope with and I am not prepared to accept the sort of narrow, uncompromising, belligerent attitude we encountered at the school so unfortunately we will be moving our children.

"We will be moving them to a school where there is a more positive attitude towards their education."

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.