AN MP has pledged to do all she can to help a struggling academy to recover three months after a highly critical Ofsted report.

Jenny Chapman, Labour MP for Darlington, offered her support to the staff and pupils of St Aidan’s Academy in Hundens Lane, Darlington, after it was announced that the principal, Catherine McCoy, and her assistant principal, Stephanie Francom, were both stepping down due to ill health.

Both school leaders have been on sick leave for some time following last November’s Ofsted report, which rated the 597 pupil secondary school as “inadequate.”

In their report Ofsted judged the school inadequate in its quality of teaching, pupils’ behaviour and safety and pupil achievement. The schools watchdog also concluded that the quality of teaching and student achievement had declined since 2013 and too few students in 2014 attained the Government’s minimum expectations.

Yesterday (Wednesday) morning students at St Aidan’s were told that following a period of ill health and in order to ensure a full recovery, Ms McCoy will be leaving the school at the end of February.

They were also told that after a long period managing a serious medical condition, Ms Francom

Is unable to continue working and will be stepping down at the end of February.

In a statement released to The Northern Echo the governors of St Aidan’s thanked them both for their service and wished then well for the future.

St Aidan’s was set up in 2007, to replace the failing Eastbourne Comprehensive School, and is now housed in an impressive £16m modern campus.

The school is now being led by acting principal Nicole Gibbon, who has been a member of the senior management team at St Aidan’s since September 2011.

A spokesman for the school said the process of filling the principal and assistant principal’s vacant posts has begun and announcements will be made “in due course.”

Mrs Chapman said: “It’s been a very difficult time for the school and I am pleased to see decisive action has been taken. I will play the fullest part I can in supporting St Aidan’s and helping the school to become the outstanding school it has the potential to be.

“St Aidan’s needs to regain the confidence of parents and support its current students to excel in their forthcoming exams.”

An Ofsted spokeswoman said: “We closely monitor all schools which are rated as inadequate and revisit within a couple of months. Schools are given two years before another full inspection is carried out.”

Schools rated as inadequate are also assigned a schools inspector who works closely with the leadership team.