Private head pulls out of academy

A senior head teacher who was due to leave the private sector to take charge of a new city academy has pulled out of the project.

Tim Hastie-Smith was to run an academy in Kettering, Northamptonshire, sponsored by Anglican schools' group the United Learning Trust.

But in a statement he said he had withdrawn from the job in the best interests of the academy.

Mr Hastie-Smith was the head of Dean Close School in Cheltenham.

His appointment was announced last month as he took over as chairman of the Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference, which includes high-profile schools such as Eton and Harrow.

'Still committed'

Mr Hastie-Smith was the first HMC chairman to make the move to the state sector.

In a statement, the United Learning Trust announced that Mr Hastie-Smith, 46, had withdrawn as principal of Kettering Academy.

His decision came after a series of discussions with ULT, the statement said.

Mr Hastie-Smith said: "It has become clear to us all that if the Kettering Academy project is to prosper it would be better if I were to withdraw.

"My commitment to the academy programme remains 100% and I wish ULT, the staff and pupils of Montagu School and the Kettering project well.

"It is far more important that this academy succeeds than that I should be its principal."

Sir Ewan Harper, chief executive of the ULT, said: "Tim has made an honourable but necessary decision to withdraw which we respect. We wish him well for his future career".

Mr Hastie-Smith has previously called for private schools to work more closely with comprehensives.