GOVERNORS from the Royal Grammar School were due to meet on Thursday to discuss the future of headmaster Tim Dingle following lurid allegations of drug taking which emerged in a national newspaper last Saturday.

The issue was added to the agenda of the pre-arranged meeting after the Daily Mail ran a double page spread in which a woman claiming to be the former lover of Mr Dingle accused the grammar school head of taking cocaine at parties and smoking cannabis seized from pupils at the school in Amersham Road, High Wycombe.

Mr Dingle, who strenuously denies the allegations, had not been back at the school last week due to a pre-arranged break and the governors were due to decide whether it is appropriate to suspend him over the allegations.

Mr Dingle is due to leave his post at Easter to take up a role at St George's College, in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

The English-speaking grammar school, known as The Eton of South America, have made no comment on the allegations.

Bucks County Council, the local education authority (LEA), said it too will be looking into the accusations made by 35-year-old Nicky Barr, who the Daily Mail claims to be Mr Dingle's ex-mistress who he met on an internet dating site.

Marion Clayton, portfolio holder for schools, said: "We will look at any article and if it is considered appropriate, an investigation will be held. Everyone is entitled to a private life."

The council said it was their policy that, should Mr Dingle be suspended, he will continue to be paid until the end of any resulting investigation.

On the same day the story appeared in the Daily Mail, the 400-year-old school sent out a letter to parents, reassuring them that they will be looking into the claims.

Thames Valley Police said they are not looking at the accusations of drug taking. Georgie Porter, spokeswoman for the Thames Valley Police, said: "We have not had any complaint and there is no indication of criminal activity in our area."

The Daily Mail article also claimed that in 2002 Mr Dingle wooed Miss Barr by posing as a top London surgeon named James Bunyard.Mr Dingle was unavailable for comment.