Durand Academy headteacher steps down

The Durand Academy in Stockwell said Sir Greg Martin, 63, would be retiring in September after 29 years.

The trust running the academy last year opened the doors to a weekly upper boarding school on the former St Cuthman’s site in Stedham, following a £17m government grant.

Sir Greg was the highest paid headteacher in the country.

However in February this year, the Charity Commission announced an investigation of the academy.

The Charity Commission is looking at the relationship between the academy and the Durand Academy Trust, a separate body that runs and governs it.

The investigation began after a hearing of Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee which said there was an ‘unacceptable lack of clarity’ over who owned assets held by the trust.

Sir Greg had been part of Durand for some 29 years and took over as Head in 1986.

He was knighted for services to education in 2013.

Chairman of governors Kevin Craig said Sir Greg would continue to be involved in Durand as a governor.

“I had the privilege of being taught by Sir Greg at the start of his teaching career in another primary school in Lambeth, so I know all too well the significant contribution he has made and the lives he has changed,” said Mr Craig.

“Sir Greg’s commitment to education reform, to challenging the status quo and to championing what is possible within the framework of state education, has made everyone at Durand Academy very proud.”

Mark McLaughlin, current Headteacher at Durand, has accepted the post of Interim Executive Headteacher.

Sir Greg said: “This is a very exciting time for Durand Academy, with plans for the Boarding school pressing ahead.

“I can think of no better person to take forward the Academy than Mark McLaughlin who has been an inspiration to work with over the past decades.

“I look to continuing to support him and the rest of the fantastic team at Durand as a governor”.

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