A HEADTEACHER at the centre of a long-running investigation into claims of mis-management at a Halesowen school has quit.

The resignation of Tess Jordan from Olive Hill Primary School comes six months into an inquiry by education chiefs after staff produced a damning dossier of 38 complaints and concerns and threatened industrial action.

Mrs Jordan is off sick and a temporary teacher, brought in to cover for an assistant headteacher who is also off sick, is now acting headteacher.

A father, who asked not to be named, described the leadership of the school as “shambolic.”

“It is such a pity. It used to be such a good school, they have a mountain to climb by the look of things to get anywhere near where they used to be,” he said.

The school’s other assistant headteacher left some months ago and the governors were due to be interviewing candidates for that post this week, with a start date of September.

In the advert for a new headteacher on Dudley Council’s website, the governors say Mrs Jordan is “leaving us for pastures new.”

Her resignation takes effect on August 31 and it is hoped a new headteacher will be appointed to start next January.

Governors chairman Peter Brady was unavailable for comment.

A Dudley Council spokesman said the acting headteacher was being supported by a leadership consultant and the local authority.

He added: "The investigation at Olive Hill, which is looking at the overall leadership at the school, is proceeding as planned and will be concluded this term."