More than 60 headteachers voiced their support for one of the officials at the centre of the row over Baby P's tragic death.

In a joint letter, they insisted Haringey's director of children's services Sharon Shoesmith was an "outstanding public servant" who should not be forced to quit.

The intervention came as ministers and inspectors faced further questions over whether they could have prevented the 17-month-old losing his life.

Children's secretary Ed Balls tried to regain the initiative, adopting a tougher tone by stressing his "anger" that "crucial interventions" had not been made in the Baby P case.

"People are asking how these despicable acts of evil can happen in this day and age and in Haringey of all places," he said. "As a parent, I found reading the confidential serious case review and the details of the abuse deeply disturbing. It is even more heartbreaking now that we have all seen the photographs of Baby P.

"Like everybody I am angry that crucial interventions to save this little boy were not made. Professionals working with children in this country do a tough job in very difficult communities but I will not hesitate to act on the findings of the investigation into what went wrong in Haringey and on Lord Laming's review of child protection."

The blond, blue-eyed toddler died in a blood-spattered cot on August 3 last year, having suffered more than 50 injuries despite 60 visits from the authorities over eight months. Two men, aged 32 and 36, were found guilty of causing or allowing the death of the little boy in August 2007, with the toddler's 27-year-old mother also convicted of the same charge late last month.

The open letter in support of Ms Shoesmith was signed by headteachers from 61 state-funded primary schools and seven secondary schools in the area.

They insisted: "Should the Child P case result in her loss from the borough, then our children and young people will lose one of their most effective, determined and committed champions. Initially, in her role of director of education, Ms Shoesmith transformed a demoralised education service, derided by many headteachers, into one with which we are now proud to be associated.

"Since more recently becoming the director of Haringey's Children and Young People's Service, Ms Shoesmith has continued to work relentlessly and with a determination that the service she leads and develops ensures best practice in providing education, care, support and protection for all of our young people."