Withins head resigns

7:45pm Saturday 28th June 2008

A SCHOOl is in shock following the sudden resignation of its headteacher.

Phil Mather, who has transformed the fortunes of Withins School, announced his decision to step down earlier this week His reasons remained unclear last night, but the decision follows weeks of turmoil and two days of strike action at the school over controversial plans to transform it into an privately-backed academy.

Mr Mather has indicated he will release a statement on Monday.

Yesterday, secretary of the Bolton branch of the National Union of Teachers, Barry Conway said: "Mr Mather has been the victim of mad and bad council decisions. He has always been child-centred and put their needs first, unlike the organisations that want to run the school as an academy. "He was one of the most friendly and affable headteachers I have known. "

Mr Mather joined Withins School in Easter 2004. He was appointed at the school following a successful track record of turning around failing schools.

Mr Mather started teaching in 1975 following a career as a chemist. Since then he has become known as a "superhead," credited with turning around failing schools.

He was rushed into Parr High School in St Helens to improve the secondary school.

The headteacher was then appointed to a school in Runcorn which was classed by Government inspectors as having serious weaknesses - just one step away from being in special measures.Under his leadership it achieved specialist status.

Since taking up the post at Withins at Easter 2004, Mr Mather has led the school out of special measures.

He was the sixth headteacher at the school in almost as many months when he was appointed. Under his leadership GCSE pass results have soared from 18 per cent to 60 per cent of pupils gaining five or more A* to C grades.

This academic year he recruited specialist teachers to ensure more pupils can count English and maths among the subjects.

Last year he admitted he has been approached by education bosses elsewhere to help "rescue" troubled schools.

Yesterday Mr Mather and Bolton Council refused to comment.