A TOP earning former headteacher has quit his role as chief executive of a group of academy schools.

David Triggs has stepped down from his role at Academies Enterprise Trust, a charity which runs 75 schools including several in the Rochford district, Witham and Clacton.

Earlier this year the trust was barred by the Department for Education from taking over more schools amid concerns over its rapid expansion.

It was instructed to focus instead on improving results in its existing academies.

The trust runs 75 academies nationwide, with three more to be taken on by next spring which were previously approved by the DfE .

Locally it runs Greensward Academy in Hockley, Maltings Academy and New Rickstones Academy in Witham, Clacton Coastal Academy, as well as Ashingdon Primary, Westerings Primary and Plumberow Primary both in Hockley.

Mr Triggs, reportedly on £250,000 a year, spent 15 years as principal of Greensward and helped turn it into a flagship school.

A statement by Academies Enterprise Trust said: “He has been planning this for some time, in discussion with the chairman and vice-chairman of the board, but the announcement has been delayed to avoid the potential for unsettling staff during the crucial exam period.

“In reluctantly accepting David’s departure, the board wishes to record its appreciation and gratitude for the immeasurable contribution to the creation and development of the trust David has made since its inception in 2008.

“It was his vision and ambition for all young people that inspired everyone he worked with continually to seek to ‘make our best better’.

“As our current exam results demonstrate, with A Level and GCSE results showing significant increases, David leaves the trust in a strong position, providing our young people with an educational environment possessed of the best facilities, the best teaching, and the most up to date resources.”

Many of the schools the trust took over had poor results and standards. However, Ofsted rated Greensward as outstanding in 2011.

Ian Comfort, group secretary and general counsel, has been appointed as interim chief executive officer.