A FAILING high school, which was recently slammed again by Ofsted, is in search of new headteacher.

St Monica's RC High School, which is currently in special measures, has put out an advertisement for a headteacher "to lead the school in the pursuit of excellence in all areas".

The appeal, published on the school's website, follows the recent resignation of the school's current head Anne-Marie Hainsworth.

Mrs Hainsworth has worked at St Monica's for 31 years, however, the school declined to reveal why she was stepping down from her post and leaving the school.

A new head is expected to takeover the position by the next academic year.

In the meantime St Monica's has announced that Chris Foley will serve as interim headteacher from January 1 until the end of the summer term.

Mr Foley is the former headteacher of Holy Family RC High School in Rochdale, which is currently rated "Good" by Ofsted.

In a letter to parents and pupils Mrs Hainsworth wrote: "It has been an honor to serve the community of St Monica's.

"I thank you for the way it has enriched my life. I have been blessed to work with such a supportive community.

"May I take this opportunity to wish you every blessing and success in the future, I pray that you will all continue to develop your God given talents and gifts to the full. God Bless."

St Monica's was recently criticised by Ofsted for not taking "effective action" to get out of special measures, following a monitoring inspection in October.

The inspection was the first made since the beginning of the year when the school was found to be "Inadequate" by the education watchdog.

St Monica's had been previously rated as "Outstanding" for more than 12 years.

In its report from February, Ofsted heavily criticised St Monica's, damning the school as "failing to give its pupils an acceptable standard of education".

The watchdog noted that in maths "Pupils’ progress is some of the worst progress in the country".

Further, provisional GCSE data was highlighted indicating that "boys underachieved dramatically right across the school".

Ofsted also said St Monica's had "illegally excluded pupils", including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities, and described senior leadership as "fragile" and lacking in experience.

Following the inspection a new overseeing body, known as an Interim Executive Board, was established in May to confront the issues at St Monica's.

In a joint statement Bury Council, The Diocese and IEB, said: "Following the resignation of the current headteacher, the IEB are seeking to appoint a new headteacher for the next academic year. In the interim, Chris Foley will be the new interim headteacher with effect from 1st January 2019 and will remain in post until a new headteacher has been appointed. Chris is a highly successful and experienced head teacher and joins the school from Holy Family RC and CE College in Rochdale, following negotiations between Salford Diocese and the governing body.

''Bury Council, The Diocese, the Interim Executive Board and the staff at St Monica's are committed to continue working together and with parents, Teaching School partners, and the community, to ensure that the quality of education experience for pupils is rapidly improved, in order to provide them with the high quality of education they deserve."