Head facing strike threat and petition resigns

Parker E-Act Academy said it was putting plans in place for new leadership at the school

A secondary school head teacher facing possible strike action and a petition with more than 500 signatures calling for her to step down has resigned.

Some parents claimed pupils at Parker E-Act Academy in Daventry, Northamptonshire, had been subjected to measures including increased detentions and a denial of toilet breaks.

Ofsted had previously rated the academy as "outstanding in the leadership category".

E-Act said it was "deeply saddened" to confirm Jane Buggins had resigned. It added she had been "effectively hounded out of her role" and it was supporting her.

The BBC has previously reported the petition submitted by parents and the teachers' union NASUWT saying it would formally vote for strike action.

E-Act said the "intense scrutiny and sensationalist reporting... have had a devastating effect on her wellbeing".

Its statement said the BBC's coverage was "deeply concerning".

The trust said the reporting had "not only damaged her career but also serves to worsen the recruitment and retention crisis".

NASUWT said about 60 teachers had been prepared to go on strike at the school

The petition said there was "widespread concern" among parents, there has been a "decline in academic progress" and special educational needs and disability (Send) pupils were not being supported.

But other parents told the BBC that it was not fair to blame wider problems at the school on any individual, including the head teacher, who took over in June.

The union said the recent leadership change at the school, which has about 1,180 pupils, had made it "increasingly difficult" for teachers to do their jobs.

It said there had been "adverse management practices at the school".

The trust said it had worked alongside Ms Buggins in trying to address parental concerns.

E-Act said it was "committed to listening" to parents and had held one-to-one meetings with more than 40 families during the half-term break to discuss how to "best implement these changes".

E-Act said in its statement that the head teacher had been "effectively hounded out of her role" and it was supporting her.

The academy trust said it would "ensure that there is as much stability in school as possible as we look to appoint new leadership".

In a letter to parents, seen by the BBC, E-Act said it had a head teacher in place until the end of term and an experienced interim head teacher would take over from January.