THE leader of a failing school has announced she will be stepping down at the end of the current academic year.

Dr Sally Beeson, head teacher of Theale Green School, made the announcement days after her school received a damning report from Ofsted.

The board of education watchdogs rated the school as 'requires improvement' and Dr Beeson has explained she will be leaving Theale to return to her family home.

Julie Turner, the current deputy head, will be interim head from September, while Simon Shelley will step in as deputy from September.

Dr Beeson said: “I have enjoyed working alongside staff, students, parents and governors.

“I would like to take this opportunity to thank staff for their tireless hard work, students for their commitment and contribution and parents and governors for their support.

“I know that Julie will provide continuity of leadership and is committed to working alongside all parties to ensure that the school continues to improve.”

Theale became an academy in 2013 after being plunged into special measures and Dr Beeson arrived in 2015 after serving as deputy head at Bradfield College.

Ofsted inspectors praised Theale as a 'rapidly improving school' shortly after she arrived, but the latest visit in May suggests the positive progress has halted.

The report reads: "Evaluation of progress has been too generous. This has led to low expectations of what pupils can achieve.

"Weak teaching during key stage 3 has slowed the progress that pupils make prior to starting GCSE courses.

"Disadvantaged pupils and those who have special educational needs and disabilities do not make good progress overall.

"Since the last inspection, leaders have not acted effectively to reverse the decline in the achievement of pupils.

"Teachers feel well supported by the head teacher and other leaders. Teachers are very positive about the changes made by leaders in the last year and feel valued.

"Greater stability in the teaching staff is leading to improved consistency for pupils this year. The school is offering good support to a number of trainee teachers."

A full recruitment process will begin in September to secure a permanent successor to Dr Beeson.