A HEADTEACHER at a Wood Green Catholic secondary school has taken anonymous leave following criticisms of his leadership.

Dr Colm Hickey, headteacher at St Thomas More, in Glendale Avenue, requested a leave of absence for "personal reasons" and was swiftly replaced with "superhead" Martin Tissot credited with turning around the fortunes of St George's School, in Maida Vale.

The sudden departure comes after angry parents went public earlier this year with a video showing pupils spraying champagne across their common room, kicking garage doors, chasing a cyclist and throwing traffic cones.

Further allegations emerged of another video allegedly showing pupils mugging a pizza delivery driver and smoking cannabis. Haringey police arrested two 16-year-old boys on suspicion of robbery shortly afterwards.

The group, called Friends of St Thomas More School (FOSS), set up a website to expose problems with behaviour at the Catholic secondary school and called for Dr Hickey’s resignation.

In a statement, Haringey Council said: "The headteacher of St Thomas More Catholic School, Dr Colm Hickey, requested a period of special leave for personal reasons - and the governors agreed to that request, having consulted the Westminster diocese and council."

Chair of Governors, Isaac Phillips, has also stood down and has been replaced by Haringey councillor Pat Egan.

Staff and parents received letters during the summer holiday informing them of the changes, and at the start of the new term Mr Tissot assumed the role of acting head.

FOSS spokesman Matthew Adams wrote: "It is a pity that the authorities appear to be attempting to cover this up by putting a smokescreen of 'special leave for personal reasons' around his absence.

"We have alerted Haringey Council and Westminster diocese to the dangers of keeping the existing leadership in place when the current pupil population is rapidly dwindling to nothing. But they are hell bent on supporting the triumvirate by giving the headteacher what is in effect compassionate leave while allowing the two deputies to continue with business as usual.

"This approach to resolving an inner-city problem is unsatisfactory and unsafe."

Mr Tissot's former school became notorious in 1995 following the fatal stabbing of former headteacher Philip Lawrence who was killed trying to defend a pupil in a fight outside the school gates. It was recently given the highest rating by possible by Ofsted inspectors.

The experienced headteacher, who has worked at the school before, said he was "delighted" to be back and said that he was committed to his vision of improving the school into an outstanding school.

He said: "I am determined to ensure that the school keeps on improving and am heartened by the commitment and support of Haringey Council, staff, parents, pupils and governors alike. With the senior team and staff, I will be completely focussed on ensuring that the climate for learning is appropriate and that the upward momentum of academic results is maintained."

In a further statement on their website, FOSS said it would continue its campaign to monitor the school as it felt only a complete overhaul of the senior staff would lead to an improvement in standards.