STEPHANIE O'GRADY, the former head teacher of St Patrick's C of E Primary Academy, Solihull, has been sacked by the governing body after an investigation into Standard Assessment Tests (SATS) taken by 30 Year-6 pupils last summer.

Results in the mental-arithmetic tests had been doctored in an attempt to improve pupil grades, the inquiry found.

The popular academy, which has an outstanding OFSTED rating, now has a new head, Caroline Glennon. A spokesman said that the diocese of Birmingham backed the governors' decision.

"Any maladministration of test papers is intolerable and the governors have acted appropriately in this rare circumstance of an individual found not to meet the high standards expected of staff in C of E schools and academies."