Headteacher in academies battle with Gove quits

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In a blow to anti-academies campaigners, the head of Downhills Primary School in Haringey resigned after Ofsted placed the school in special measures.

Mr Gove said Downhills was failing pupils and wanted to force it to convert to academy status. But the move was unpopular among parents and the school's governors had threatened legal action, so the emergency Ofsted inspection was ordered to provide an independent assessment.

Ofsted inspectors found the school was making "too little progress" and placed it in special measures on Friday. It means ministers can dismiss teachers and governors and, if necessary, close the school.

Headteacher Leslie Church resigned and left the school on Friday to a tearful goodbye from pupils. Governors said they will not challenge Ofsted's findings and "reluctantly" accepted Mr Church's resignation.

In a statement they said: "Leslie is tremendously popular with parents, staff and children and retains the full support of the governing body. We wish him every success for the future."

The governors, who do not intend to stand down, said they would be writing to Mr Gove to arrange a meeting to discuss the future of the school.

A Department for Education spokeswoman said: "We have been clear that we consider academy status to be the best way to improve schools that are consistently under-performing. Academies have already turned around hundreds of struggling secondary schools ... and are improving their results at twice the national average rate."