The head of a new free school who was controversially appointed with no teaching qualifications has stepped down just four weeks after it opened.
Annaliese Briggs, 27, has left Pimlico Primary and will be replaced by a teacher with 10 years of experience.
Ms Briggs had previously defended herself against criticism that she was inexperienced, saying she was chosen for her curriculum expertise and that her appointment was “pragmatic”.
Today Pimlico Primary said Ms Briggs was leaving “to pursue other opportunities within primary education” after “successfully” setting up the school. The new principal, Kelly Teddy, is a former deputy headteacher.
Mothers outside Pimlico Primary expressed their surprise, saying they had been told Ms Briggs was ill and would be returning. Sources told the Guardian that Ms Briggs was “not happy because she could not cope with the job, full stop. It was too much to learn, too quickly.”
Pimlico Primary is sponsored by Future Academies, a charity set up by schools minister Lord Nash — an ally of Education Secretary Michael Gove. Commentators said Ms Briggs’s departure could be a political embarrassment because a key Conservative policy favours expertise in subjects over classroom experience.
Mr Gove has called for more people without teaching qualifications to take over schools.
Kevin Brennan, Labour’s shadow schools minister, said Labour would end the practice of allowing unqualified teachers into classrooms.
Paul Dimoldenberg, leader of the Labour group on Westminster council, called for Prime Minister David Cameron to mount an inquiry into the Future Group, which also runs two other primaries in London.
Ms Briggs previously worked at the think tank Civitas. She said during that time she taught primary school children in supplementary schools, which offer out-of-hours teaching, helping improve literacy and numeracy skills.
When she was appointed she had not completed a postgraduate certificate in education. She was not available for comment today.
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