THE principal of a Hampshire college, put into special measures by Government inspectors, has quit.

Andrew Dyer has stood down with immediate effect from his role at the New Forest Academy, which has 540 pupils.

The Holbury school says he has resigned due to “personal circumstances” and has appointed Karen Godsall, previously a teacher at The Purbeck School in Dorset, as interim principal.

In a statement Lisa Hayes, chair of the school's governors, said: “He has represented the academy locally through leading the New Forest principals' group and has brought about many successful initiatives for the students through his work with local businesses, headteachers of other local schools as well as Local Authority contacts within Hampshire.

“He has personally taught many of New Forest Academy's students and assisted them in gaining crucial grades for the next steps in their education.

“Governors, staff and students wish him well and trust that he will soon be able to re-enter the education service.”

The standard of teaching and the behaviour of pupils at the school was criticised in a recent Ofsted report.

The watchdog criticised poor GCSE results and accused staff of not inspiring pupils in its first year as an academy.