RUMOURS the headteacher of Essa Academy has resigned have been rubbished by the school’s bosses.

Showk Badat, appointed principal of Bolton’s first academy school, is not currently running the school, and there is no date for his return.

School bosses say he is on leave for "personal reasons".

The sudden leave of absence was, it is understood, announced last week.

A spokesman from the Great Lever school said: “Showk is absent at the moment and currently on sick leave for personal reasons.”

The day-to-day running of the 811-strong school has been taken over by his deputy headteacher, Jeff Ellis.

A Bolton Council spokesman said: “We have been informed that he is on leave for personal reasons.”

Chairman of the governing body Anwar Patel said: “I understand there are rumours circulating that Mr Badat has resigned from his post as principle designate at Essa Academy.

“I can confirm that this is not the case and that Mr Badat is currently on leave for personal reasons and is still an employee of the academy.

“We do not know at this time how long Mr Badat will be on leave, however, Mr Ellis will be responsible for the day-to-day running of the academy.”

MORE:

Since arriving as headteacher, Mr Badat has built up an international a reputation for the academy, which opened in a storm of protest in 2009.

It is sponsored by the Patel brothers, the entrepreneurs behind Cohens Chemist, and Bolton Council.

Under Mr Badat’s appointment, standards have soared rapidly and plans are underway to open a free primary school next September, transforming Essa into a super school.

Essa became the first school in the country to give its pupils iPods to enhance learning, and it has attracted the attention of the country’s top schools and ministers, both in the UK and abroad. And Ofsted reported that: “Actions arising from the principal’s pursuit of excellence have had considerable impact on improving academic outcomes and students’ personal development and well-being.”

Mr Badat was not available for comment.