THE principal of a troubled Bradford secondary school has been relieved of her duties following a showdown meeting with governors over its latest exam results.

An interim principal has been appointed to run Laisterdyke Business and Enterprise College in place of Jen McIntosh, who has led the school since January 2011.

The decision was made by the school's Interim Executive Board, which was brought in last April after its governing body was sacked due to serious concerns about the way the school was being run.

The school would yesterday reveal few details of why the decision was made but said Mrs McIntosh would not be back at her desk for a "period of time".

Sophie Gillies, the deputy head of Immanuel College in Thackley, has been appointed as the interim principal.

Last Saturday evening parents called a meeting with local councillors and Councillor Susan Hinchcliffe, the executive member responsible for education, over concerns about the school's GCSE results which are believed to compare poorly with the previous year.

About 100 people attended and many raised concerns over how the school was being run.

The school, which has 1,063 pupils, has experienced a turbulent few years.

In October 2013 it was told it "required improvement" by Ofsted inspectors.

In April 2014 a follow up inspection raised "serious concerns" about how the governors were running the school, and the entire governing body was replaced by the Bradford Council appointed Interim Executive Board.

There was a large backlash to that decision and a petition signed by more than 1,600 people calling for the governors to be re-instated was submitted to the Council.

In March of this year an independent review was set up to investigate their concerns, although the panel has not yet revealed its findings.

When the Telegraph & Argus asked the school for the reasons behind the decision to replace Mrs McIntosh at the start of the school year, Chew PR, the company handling its publicity, said: "The principal of Laisterdyke Business and Enterprise College is not in college at the moment. The local authority is aware of this.

"Interim management arrangements have been put in place and the local authority is working with the Interim Executive Board at the college continuing to focus on the education of the students and improving attainment as speedily as possible for all concerned."

Subsequently the school sent a letter to parents which stated: "Since last term a number of staff have left and we have welcomed new colleagues to the college.

"Jen McIntosh, the principal, will not be in college for a period of time. Interim management arrangements have been put in place and Sophie Gillies from Immanuel College will undertake the duties of interim principal during this time.

"The Interim Executive Board assures you that the college will continue to focus on your child’s education, ensuring that they receive the best education possible during their time here.”

Cllr Hinchcliffe said: “The Council is aware that the principal of Laisterdyke Business and Enterprise College is not in college at the moment.

"However this is a matter for the college and we are not able to comment on issues relating to individuals.

“The interim principal and the Interim Executive Board will ensure that the focus of the college remains on prioritising students’ education achievement.

“It is in everyone's best interests that the college remains a calm and pleasant learning environment so it can get on with looking after and educating all of its students.”

Councillor Faisal Khan (Bradford Independent Group) was one of the governors who was replaced last year. On hearing of the latest developments, he said: "I understand the head teacher of Laisterdyke College is no longer in the building and a interim appointment has been made.

"I wish all the best to the interim head who will need to act quickly and fairly."