The headteacher of a primary school under investigation over its Sats results has admitted taking disciplinary action against staff, despite publicly denying there had been wrongdoing.

Susan Papas, head of Heavers Farm in South Norwood, told a parent "the staff responsible" for sparking a Department for Education (DfE) probe into claims of exam cheating would play no part in "any future teaching, exams or tests".

Febraury 12, 2015: Pupils still waiting for Sats results NINE months after sitting exams 

October 1, 2014: Second primary school under investigation over exam 'cheating'

The department's Standards and Testing Agency (STA) launched an investigation into the school, along with Selsdon Primary School, also headed by Mrs Papas, after receiving reports pupils were unfairly given help during last year's exams.

The headteacher, who has run Heavers Farm, in Dinsdale Gardens, since 2007, said in September she was "shocked" by the allegations and insisted there was "no evidence" of any misconduct.

However, the Croydon Guardian has an seen email in which Mrs Papas assures a pupil's parent that staff have been "disciplined appropriately", despite the STA's probe having not yet concluded.

The email, circulated among parents, reads: "Whilst I cannot share any details about the investigation into what happened with last year’s KS2 tests, I can let you know what we have done to ensure that this will not happen again. 

"The staff responsible have been disciplined appropriately and will not have any part to play in any future teaching, exams or tests. I will be present for the week of the tests and will oversee the invigilation of every paper and we plan to administer the tests in such a way that it will be impossible for any allegations of malpractice to occur."

Mrs Papas adds "intensive reviews" of teaching have been carried out across the school. The email does not mention Selsdon Primary School. 

The headteacher this week declined to discuss the email, stating she was "bound by confidentiality". 

Her email was sent to a parent of a current pupil, with those who left last year still in the dark about the investigation.

The mum of a 12-year-old girl sat the exams at Heavers Farm last year said she was shocked by the email.  

The woman, who asked not to be named to protect her daughter's identity, said: "It is a very big difference to what they originally said. 

"I feel disappointed and misled."

She added: "It seems as though we are the last to know everything, even though it is our children who are going through secondary school without any Sats results."

Sats papers have been withheld from Heavers Farm pupils since July last while the investigation goes on. 

Selsdon Primary pupils received their results last summer but could see them torn up after the investigation, originally focussed only on the Heavers Farm, was widened to include the second school in October.

A DfE spokesman said: "The investigations into Heavers Farm and Selsdon Primary School are ongoing and the outcomes will be published in due course."

The STA's investigation is expected to be completed by the end of March.

The two schools came under an umbrella federation last year following Mrs Papas's appointment as executive headteacher in 2013.

Do you know more about this story? Email chris.baynes@london.newsquest.co.uk or call 0208 722 6351