The "draconian" and "autocratic" leadership at a primary school will lead to an exodus of pupils, parents have warned.

Up to 50 pupils are thought to have left Stanford Primary in Chilmark Road, Norbury, this academic year.

Parents are saying more will go after headteacher Keran Currie made the entire after-school care team redundant.

A meeting was held at the school last week following protests by furious parents who rely on the service.

But despite their efforts, which included a petition of more than 100 signatures, 12 jobs will be lost when after-care at the school is scrapped next term.

Parent Stephanie Palmer said: "I'm just absolutely disgusted. There have been so many disruptive changes in the last year and firing the after-school staff is just the final straw."

Fellow parent and former teacher, Janet Dixon added: "This is going to be horrible for the school. The new head has only been here for eight months but she's acted in such a destructive, draconian, and autocratic way."

Another parent, who did not wish to be named, said: "At the meeting the head and an accountant from the school couldn't answer any of our questions. We've been treated appallingly.

"I've no idea how parents will be able to find care for their children with just three months' notice. I'm already starting to think about sending my children elsewhere."

The staff facing redundancy are seeking advice from the GMB trade union.

Union representative Nick Day described the decision as "unjustified", claiming the school had failed to provide accurate financial evidence to support the job losses, with two out of the school's three after-care services remaining profitable.

The chairman of Stanford's governing body claimed parents had been consulted. He said: "Over the past 18 months we have spent a lot of time trying to find a sustainable solution for extended services at Stanford.

"Unfortunately we are no longer able to sustain the services and know that the closure is going to affect both the staff that work here and the children that use it."