Graeme Plunkett will leave his post at troubled school at the end of the term

EXCLUSIVE

The headteacher of a troubled secondary school in Wembley which is in the process of becoming an academy is to step down.

Graeme Plunkett is understood to have been told he must leave his post at Copland Community School in Cecil Avenue, by the end of the summer term.

Mr Plunkett took up the role in September 2010 after spending nine years at a school in Cornwall.

Last month the school was placed in special measures following a damning report by Ofsted.

Among the criticisms outlined by the education watchdog was the state of the school building which it said provided an “unacceptable environment for learning.”

At the time, Copland was the only local authority controlled secondary school in the borough but within weeks it was announced it would be converted to an academy.

The news sparked outrage from furious teachers who took part in a strike last month and are planning a second round of industrial action next week.

Last Thursday, the school governors were replaced with an Interim Executive Board for the second time in four years.

The first IEB were put into place in 2009 after a whistleblower claimed senior members of staff were paying themselves illegal bonuses amounting to £2.7m.

The scandal resulted in the then head teacher quitting and his deputy being fired.

The pair, alongside four other staff members were subsequently charged with fraud.

They deny the claims and will face trial in September.

A spokesman for Brent Council refused to confirm or deny that Mr Plunkett was leaving.

She said: “The council cannot comment further at the moment on staffing issues.”