A THIRD headteacher in under a year has been suspended as one of the most improved schools in the country descends into crisis.

Sam Robbins, previously head of college at Fyndoune Community College, which with Durham Community Business College (DCBC) makes up the Durham Federation, took overall control of the federation following the suspension of Trevor Dunn last month.

Mr Dunn, previously principal of DCBC, only took on the top job temporarily after federation chief executive Anne Lakey was suspended last December.

But now Mrs Robbins has also been suspended, The Northern Echo can reveal.

In a statement, Caroline O’Neill, head of education at Durham County Council, said: “I can confirm that a member of staff has been suspended pending the results of an investigation.

“It’s important to remember that suspension is a neutral position and not an indication of any wrong doing.”

Although the council would not confirm the member of staff’s identity, The Northern Echo understands it is Mrs Robbins.

The council also declined to say when or why the suspension had been imposed.

Parents, children, governors and staff remain in the dark.

However, the chair of governors, county councillor David Bell, has repeatedly said pupils’ education would not suffer.

Fyndoune, in Sacriston, near Chester-le-Street, has soared up the school league table in the last five years, with the percentage of pupils achieving at least five GCSEs at grades A* to C leaping from 26 to 85.

Recently, it was named one of the ten most improved state secondary schools in the country. Two years previously, it topped that table.

DCBC, in Ushaw Moor, near Durham, has led the way in vocational education.

Ms Lakey had won national acclaim, being described by HM’s Chief Inspector of Education Sir Michael Wilshaw as one of the best examples of inspiring leadership, and appointed to the National Leaders of Education body.

She is now subject to a police investigation. Durham Police have conducted an interview under caution, but no charges have been made.

* Are you a parent at Fyndoune or DCBC? Call Mark Tallentire on 0191-384-4600.