Pupils said Mr Walker cared and had made them work hard

Headlands School made national news in May when a class teacher wrote to his pupils criticising the way the school was being run.

Pupils staged the protest in support of teacher Malcolm Walker.

Now the headteacher of the Swindon school, Nicky Barton, has stepped down for what are described as "personal reasons".

In May, the whole of Headlands School was sent home after about 40 year nine students staged the walkout.

They were voicing concerns about standards and protesting against a decision to discipline Mr Walker.

They said they were upset at Mr Walker's departure because he cared and had made them work hard.

The history teacher had written to his tutor group criticising the way the school was run and faced action by education officials.