A TROUBLESHOOTER has been brought in to reverse the fortunes of an ailing North-East school.

Unity City Academy was plunged into turmoil when four governors resigned on the eve of the arrival of another critical report from Ofsted.

Government inspectors are believed to have found little improvement in standards despite the school being placed in special measures in May for failing to deliver an acceptable standard of education.

The academy's sponsor, Amey, has appointed David Triggs as the new chief executive in a bid to address the continued failings of the Middlesbrough school.

Those resigning from the board are former chairman Joe McCarthy, who is also chief executive of Cleveland Police Authority; Kate Brown, a senior education officer with the Middlesbrough Learning Partnership; Sheila Wright, vice-principal of Middlesbrough College; and Pat White, deputy director of the University of Teesside's Centre for Lifelong Learning.

Amey immediately drafted in Mr Triggs to focus on the rapid progress in results required to lift the academy out of list of the country's 50 worst schools.

The new chief executive already has an impressive track record of improving and transforming schools, notably leading London's Greig City Academy from failure to success in two years.

Tony Barry, who represents Amey as a governor on the school's board, said: "David's proven performance and leadership will take the academy onto the next stage of its development."

It is understood that Mr Triggs will commit 120 days to the academy in the coming 12 months and 80 the following year.

Mr Triggs, who is currently the principal of Greensward College in Hockley, Essex, said: "I'm looking forward to the challenges ahead, and with the continued support of our sponsors, we are in a great place to turn around the educational results of Unity City Academy."