Parents are pulling their children out of a Braintree school after an academy trust withdrew from running it a fortnight after it was placed in special measures.

Lilac Sky Schools has announced it would stop running Tabor Academy from Easter, just two years after taking over the secondary school with a pledge to make it “outstanding”.

Headteacher Matthew Slater, who was only appointed last September, has left with immediate effect. Vice-principal Mark Bowman is now acting headteacher.

The announcement was made in a letter to staff and parents last Wednesday, which pledged a new academies trust would take over soon.

It read: “We acknowledge that, given the current circumstances and the feelings of parents/carers, staff and the community, Lilac Sky Schools feel it is time for another sponsor to have the opportunity to improve the academy’s standards rapidly to lead Tabor Academy to being the ‘good’ school we feel it should be.

“We wish Tabor Academy, the new sponsor and especially the staff and the students all of the very best of luck in the coming years.”

See this week's Braintree Times for a two-page special on the situation at Tabor Academy.