THE executive headteacher of the newly formed Quantock Academy has resigned, bringing an abrupt end to a 15-year career at the helm of the Williton campus. Parents at Danesfield Middle and St Peter's and Old Cleeve first schools, which make up the academy, were given the news about Ian Bradbury in a letter on Wednesday, with staff told earlier in the day. But chairman of governors Cerys Randell has refused to elaborate on the reasons behind Mr Bradbury's decision. It comes just three weeks after he was suspended, action which is believed in part to be linked to the appointment of Priscilla Davo, the Spanish teacher alleged to have put sticky tape over the mouths of a class of ten and 11-year-olds at Danesfield. Mr Bradbury told the Free Press yesterday (Thursday) that he had taken the opportunity to take early retirement but admitted he had resigned. But he also declined to explain the reasons for his decision. "The only thing I want to say is that I have thoroughly enjoyed leading Danesfield and, more recently, the Quantock Academy," he said. "I just want to say thank you for the tremendous support I have received over the years and I wish everyone - parents, staff and pupils - the very best for the future." In her letter to parents, Mrs Randell said Mr Bradbury's resignation would take immediate effect. She said he had led Danesfield and latterly the Quantock Federation since January 1999. "He has achieved much and under his leadership the schools have improved outcomes for our children," said Mrs Randell. "Most recently he has led the schools through the process of acquiring academy status. "The governors wish to place on record their appreciation of Ian's achievements and wish him well in the future as he moves into a new phase of his life and career." Following Mr Bradbury's departure, the three schools are being led on a day to day basis by associate headteacher Dan Perry, with Nigel Johnson continuing in his role as deputy. But the governors have also drafted in Rob Benzie, the recently retired principal of Ansford Academy in Castle Cary. Mr Benzie is expected to provide "strategic leadership and support for staff" on an interim basis pending permanent leadership appointments. Mrs Randell said: "We are confident that these interim arrangements will ensure that the education of all our children will not be adversely affected by leadership changes." However, the investigation into Ms Davo is ongoing, with governors at this stage giving no indication when it will be concluded, despite the incident having taken place more than two months ago. Ms Davo is believed to remain suspended and is understood to have returned to her home near Granada. Parent Stacey Bradbury, whose son Thomas was one of the children in Ms Davo's class affected by the sticky tape allegations, told the Free Press she had heard nothing about the outcome of the investigation. "Everything has been kept very secretive," she said. "We don't know if what happened has got anything to do with Mr Bradbury's resignation - it was a bit of a surprise. "But we definitely want to know what is going on and the outcome of the investigation." Ms Davo joined the Danesfield staff at the beginning of the year to teach her native language and art, having spent a month at the school in 2012 as a student teacher. Mr Bradbury has always been a keen exponent of the Spanish language and culture and the initial visit was the result of links between the school and Granada University, with Danesfield also partnered with a primary school in Granada and a secondary school in Motril. In addition to promoting Spanish, Mr Bradbury has overseen a number of other developments at Danesfield, with the school awarded specialist status for science, technology, engineering and maths in 2008. Two years later, the Quantock Performing Arts Centre - a £747,000 publicly funded investment - was opened on the campus. The three previously federated schools became an academy on March 1 this year but the first working day of the new status was marred by the incident involving Ms Davo.