THE headteacher of a failing secondary school has resigned following an announcement that it has been accepted onto a trust scheme aimed at improving standards.

Mike Feehan had been the head at King Harold school in Waltham Abbey for ten years, but suddenly left last week, and parents and pupils were informed only after he had gone.

As a National Challenge School, King Harold has now become part of the Kemnal Trust to harness energy and experience from external partners.

It has formed a link with the Kemnal Technology College in Bromley, Welling School in Bexley and Debden Park High School in Loughton. But as the announcement was made Mr Feehan decided to step aside for someone else to take over.

He said: "It's a new era for the school and it seemed the right time for me to go. I wanted to give someone else the opportunity to improve things."

But the shake up came as a surprise to parents.

Chair of the PTA Vicky Byrne said: "It's the first I've heard of it."

A statement from Mr Feehan, sent to parents after he left said: "I believe it is important to consider the longer term planning to raise standards and to provide an excellent education for our community.

"I am sure that the opportunity to appoint a new headteacher to lead the school for a substantial period of time into the future will further support this development."

Tara Smith, 40 from Roundhills, Waltham Abbey has two children at the school.

She said: "I think there's something going on, there's something a bit funny about him leaving, it was very sudden.

"There's a lot of bullying going on at the school and nothing has been done about it. Whenever they have a problem with the children they get on the phone straight away, but when you want to get hold of the head to speak to him about the bullying he was never there.

"I have been thinking about taking them out and sending them somewhere else. A lot of children have moved to Debden Park which they call the King Harold reject school because that's where they all go."

Maria Hagger, 40 from Waltham Abbey has a daughter at the school and said she had been happy with Mr Feehan.

She added: "I thought he was a good headteacher. I always found him very accommodating and obliging when I have had to see him about different things.

"I knew that he had gone, it was a bit of a shock and a terrible shame."

The school was threatened with closure last year after it appeared in the government's list of 'failing schools' with less than 30 per cent of pupils gaining five or more GCSE's.

It has now formed a new governing body, with the majority of members from the Kemnal Trust.

Mrs Byrne said she hopes the new system will help improve standards.

She added: "I think most people seem very positive about the trust and very supportive of it. Debden Park is a shinning example of how well it has worked for them, and we hope for the same success.

"I think Mr Feehan wanted someone to come in who would be here for a long time."