The controversial head teacher of Simon Langton Girls’ Grammar School in Canterbury has quit her job.

Jane Robinson announced today she will step down at the end of next month, telling how “ongoing public challenges” to her professionalism have affected her health.

Her resignation has been accepted just weeks after the conclusion of a confidential investigation into her treatment of staff and pupils.

She said today: “After nine years working here at Simon Langton Girls’ Grammar School as your head teacher, I have made the difficult decision to resign from my post as from April 30.

“I have been under a great deal of pressure over the course of the past year with the ongoing public challenges to my professionalism and this has taken its toll on my personal health and wellbeing.”

In November the school's governing body commissioned England’s former chief schools adjudicator Prof Ian Craig to carry out an inquiry into the head’s leadership.

It followed dozens of complaints from parents, staff and pupils, and a botched attempt to convert the school into an academy.

Kent County Council today said the school’s chair of governors, Alisdair Chisholm, has decided “a number of actions should be put in place” following a review of the report – but did not say what they will be.

The county council’s director of education, Keith Abbott, said: “The independent investigation into complaints received from parents, staff and students by Kent County Council and Simon Langton Girls’ Grammar School has concluded.

“Following his review of the findings the chair of governors considers that a number of actions should be put in place and the lessons learnt from the investigation report will aid the school in moving forward after the events of the past year.

“Kent County Council will continue to work closely with the governing body to aid this process.”

The school faced heavy criticism for attempting to force through a plan for the Girls’ Langton to become a multi-academy trust with the Spires Academy in Hersden.

The school was accused of pushing ahead with academisation regardless of opinion when it was revealed the proposal had already won the approval of the Department for Education.

It later emerged that a vote by governors on the plan was invalid due to “procedural shortcomings” involving apparent conflicts of interest.

In June, following huge outcry by parents who feared the move was a step towards privatisation, the school ditched its plan.

In the summer five governors quit their posts with the school and education authority promising to usher in “a new climate of openness and transparency”.

This promise was called into question in January when the school held an away day at Eastwell Manor Hotel for Mrs Robinson and governors.

It cost £875, but governors’ chairman Alisdair Chisholm refused to answer questions about the purpose of the day.

And despite the promise of transparency, only the school’s governing body will see Prof Craig’s report.

Mrs Robinson ended a statement released through KCC today by saying: “I have spent some amazing years here at Langton Girls' and thoroughly enjoyed working with some incredibly hard-working staff and students who I know will continue to go from strength to strength.

“I would particularly like to thank our brilliant leadership team for all that they do, and I know they will continue to support all staff and students to achieve their best with the full support of the governing body.

“I shall miss you all greatly, but will always have some very fond memories of my time at Langton Girls'.”