Headteacher walks away from flagship UCL academy

THE flagship UCL-sponsored academy planned for Swiss Cottage has been rocked by another blow this week after it emerged the headteacher appointed to take over the school has pulled out, writes Charlotte Newton. Sylvia Jones was due to take up her role in

THE flagship UCL-sponsored academy planned for Swiss Cottage has been rocked by another blow this week after it emerged the headteacher appointed to take over the school has pulled out, writes Charlotte Newton.

Sylvia Jones was due to take up her role in September but in a dramatic U-turn she has now decided to stay on in her post at Valentine's High School in Redbridge. As part of the government's Building School's for the Future (BSF) review it was announced the construction of the �30million academy was to be 'reviewed' so with the uncertainty around its future, Mrs Jones felt it was too risky to move fearing she could have been left without a job.

Vice-Provost of UCL Professor Michael Worton, who has co-ordinated the academy sponsorship, said: "We regret that she has been put in this situation but we understand that she has a responsibility to her family.

"Mrs Jones is one of the country's leading headteachers and she was a very good match for the academy because she really understood its ethos."

Prof Worton said that UCL was expecting to hear from the government by tomorrow over whether or not it would go ahead. A spokesman for the Department of Education said a new headteacher would be appointed. He said: "Obviously this is disappointing. No decisions on BSF funding for academies have been made yet.