THE principal of the Oxford Academy has gone on leave ‘for personal reasons’.
Mike Reading has been on leave from his post at the Sandy Lane West secondary school since at least November 14.
A message sent to parents and pupils read: “As principal of The Oxford Academy I have requested leave for personal reasons and this has been granted by the chairman of the board.
“I am confident that the senior team, especially our team of vice principals, will be able to provide the leadership that will rapidly move us to the next level, assisted by a senior educational consultant that is being placed here by the sponsors during my leave of absence.”
The school was inspected by Ofsted, on November 28 and 29, and is still awaiting the results.
Vice principal Sarah Norcliffe is acting headteacher in Mr Reading’s absence, and the consultant working at the school is David Brown.
It is not known when Mr Reading is expected to return.
The school was Oxford’s first academy and is sponsored by the Diocese of Oxford, the Beecroft Trust and Oxford Brookes University.
Last summer it failed to meet Government floor targets, with only 26 per cent of pupils achieving five A* to C GCSE grades including English and maths.
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