THE FORMER headteacher of a new Reading school has taken her children out of formal education to travel the world.

Louisa Jones stepped down as headteacher of the Civitas Academy this summer, less than a year after the Great Knollys Street school opened.

Writing on her blog, the mum of two said she planned to take her children out of school and whisk them on a year long, around the world tour.

Despite rules allowing local authorities to fine parents £60 per child for 'unauthorised' holiday absences, Mrs Jones was convinced no one would stop her family's trip.

"By the way, I am always asked- were they ok with you taking your children out of school?" she wrote.

"Well nobody cares. What I mean is, as long as you are taken off roll and not causing the school a poor attendance then the school doesn't mind. In fact they support some real life schooling."

Mrs Jones went on to say the authorities had not been in contact with her or visited her home to check she was schooling her children, Rufus and Katie.

A Reading Borough Council spokesperson said: "Council Education officers are aware of this family and are satisfied they have acted within the law.

"We can confirm there is no investigation regarding their children’s schooling."

Mrs Jones and her husband will be technically home-schooling their children in various sunny locations.

The family of four will begin in Dubai where they will stay with friends and family before moving to Bahrain, Sri Lanka, Singapore, New Zealand, the Cook Islands, Argentina and Costa Rica, with an extended stay in the United States and Canada at the end.

The trip has been funded by the sale of the family's home and possessions.