THE executive head teacher of St Gregory’s High School and Cardinal Newman High School has left his post to ‘pursue other opportunities’ at a school in Yorkshire.

David Lewis, who took over leadership of both high schools in April 2013, has resigned to take on the job as head teacher at St Wilfrid's Catholic High School and Sixth Form College.

Mr Lewis had previously worked at the school in Wakefield from September 1998 to April 2006 and was credited by Ofsted as transforming a once failing school into an outstanding educational establishment.

A source said: "He has jumped ship again. His photo was on the school's website before he'd even left St. Gregory's."

It is understood Cardinal Newman’s head of school Julie Warburton and St Gregory’s head of school Rosemary Howard-Rigby have taken on interim leadership.

Andrew Dawson will start as interim head teacher after the Easter holidays.

Mr Lewis has been subject to intense scrutiny over the last 12 months after it was revealed that despite his success at St Wilfrid's, he had previously worked at a failing school in Sheffield.

During his time at Sheffield Springs Academy as principal, the school was told it needed to rapidly improve by Ofsted.

Questions were later raised about Mr Lewis’ abilities as executive head teacher after both schools were criticised by Ofsted during his leadership.

Cardinal Newman was given a rating of ‘requires improvement’ following an inspection from Ofsted in December.

Despite the school being praised for its teaching and the achievement of pupils, the governing body were flagged up by inspectors for not having an ‘accurate enough view of students’ achievement’.

St Gregory’s High School was also slammed by Ofsted for ‘dull’ teaching, ‘disruptive’ lessons and for failing to meet students’ learning needs and was consequently placed in special measures.

It follows a visit from inspectors in December, which saw the Cromwell Avenue school drop from outstanding to inadequate.

A spokesman for the council confirmed that Mr Lewis had resigned to pursue other opportunities and that adverts have now been published to recruit a headteacher and deputy headteacher  and were unable to comment any further.