A TEACHER has branded her MP “ignorant” and “unprofessional” after he sent a scathing personal response to an email opposing academy schools.

Theresa Wyatt, who works at Angmering School, contacted East Worthing and Shoreham MP Tim Loughton, to challenge his claim that there is no opposition to Worthing High School’s proposed move to academy status.

Part of her email read: “It has been proven not to work already. Please take on board the real situation, it is too easy for you obviously, as an MP, to lie to everyone in order to get what you want and damn what the people and communities want.”

The Conservative politician, who responded with just one sentence, said: “Given such a display of ignorance, arrogance and sheer unadulterated prejudice thank God you are not teaching children in my constituency.”

Ms Wyatt, who admitted that her email was “probably a bit juvenile”, said: “I was shocked by the response. I honestly felt that my letter would be replied by a ‘thank you for your concerns, they have been noted’ letter. Instead I got an abusive and personal attack.”

School governors voted to accept academy plans on May 31 despite parents and teachers protesting outside the meeting. Mr Loughton, in a press release following the decision, praised the school for their “extended consultation with parents and drop-in clinics.”

He added: “Only one constituent has written to me to express their objections. I gather that very few objections were received by the school during the consultation period as well.”

Parents at the school hit out at the MP’s response and Ms Wyatt decided to email him.

She added: “I have dealt with MPs for many reasons in the past, all of which have been a positive experience, even if the subject was not of the positive nature.

“I have never known a professional person who holds such a high status to be so openly derogatory and rude. It is unforgivable that he feels he is even able to treat people with such arrogance.”

When asked by The Argus to explain his response, the MP said: “Her language speaks for itself. “I would not think of sending a constituent such an abusive email which does nothing to further her aims – why should she expect me to take it lying down?”