CLARENDON Academy head Mark Stenton quit the school without warning this week, leaving parents and pupils baffled.

Mr Stenton was at the Frome Road, Trowbridge school last month, when he congratulated pupils on A-level and GCSE results.

But on Wednesday, as pupils made their way through the gates after the summer break, a statement on the school’s website broke the news that Mr Stenton would not return and that he would ‘pursue his passion in supporting other secondary schools around the country’.

The former deputy head of Kingdown School in Warminster, Rob Price, will take up the role of acting headteacher.

Parent Elaine Collins, of Orchard Road, whose 11-year-old daughter Alanna has joined Year 7, said: “We didn’t know anything about it. I found out on the first day Alanna went to school. Someone posted the news on Facebook. I don’t think the school has handled it well at all. We met Mr Stenton in July when Alanna was at Newtown Primary. It would have been good if we had been giving some warning.”

On September 1, Clarendon Academy was taken over by the Acorn Education Trust, which runs several schools in the Warminster area, replacing the Education Fellowship Trust. Many took to social media to express their disappointment over also finding out that news on the school’s website.

Sara Edwards, CEO of the Acorn Education Trust, said: “We did try to send a message to parents on Monday but our In-touch text messaging service was down and it is still down. The documents were signed last Thursday. It has been a very quick transfer. I am sorry that parents are slightly aggrieved. We are very happy to listen to their concerns.”

She refused to comment on Mr Stenton’s departure.