BICESTER Community College’s governors have been sacked, just weeks after the school was put in special measures.

Oxfordshire County Council’s demand to replace the 18-strong board of governors has been approved by the Department for Education. A new five person interim executive board (IEB) is now in place to oversee the Queens Avenue school.

The move comes as principal Jason Clarke apologised for the problems.

The school was put into special measures earlier this month following a critical report by Ofsted, which rated it as inadequate in all areas.

In a statement Mr Clarke said: “It is deeply regrettable that we find ourselves in this position and I offer my sincere apologies to all members of our community that I allowed it to happen ‘on my watch’. As we move forward, our pursuit of high quality learning will be relentless.”

The interim governing board, appointed by the county council, will be led by Bob Wintringham, former chairman of governors of Faringdon Community College. Other members include Ofsted inspector Bob Adams; Jill Judson, former headteacher of Oxford’s Cherwell School; Michael Waine, former headteacher, Oxfordshire County Council cabinet member for schools and BCC governor, and David Dunne, who was board chairman at Bicester’s Cooper School.