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Schools chief leaves – three weeks after Mail's quit call

Hull’s education director Joan Taylor is to step down after months of controversy – and pressure from the Hull Daily Mail.

The campaigning newspaper revealed she is set to stand down at the end of this week, less than three months after the newspaper called for her to quit over poor attainment standards in the city’s secondary schools.

Editor John Meehan said: “Ms Taylor’s position had become untenable. It was simply not an option for her to continue in post and this is the right outcome for pupils and parents in Hull.

“Since we made our call for Ms Taylor’s resignation she has been the director in name only and, as a result, we have seen a much more positive and proactive approach from the LEA.

“The leader of Kingston upon Hull City Council claims that Ms Taylor’s early retirement is unconnected with our campaign. I beg to differ. It was our coverage that forced the council to address the lack of leadership at the LEA which had contributed to Hull’s dismal GCSE performance.”

The Mail’s campaign had been heavily criticised by members of the city’s ruling Labour group who accused the paper of a personal “witch hunt”.

Mr Meehan responded by challenging anyone who took issue with the conduct or tone of the campaign to make an official complaint to the Press Complaints Commission.

He said: “It is worth noting that no complaint was made, despite the vitriol directed at this newspaper by councillors. Any such complaint would have been contested vigorously.

“Our campaign was an entirely legitimate expression of our role to represent the interests of our readers and communities.”

At 54, Ms Taylor is coming up to the lowest possible early retirement age of 55 and is understood to have expressed an interest in stepping down several months ago – even before the Mail’s call for her resignation.

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