BRITAIN’S “strictest head teacher” has been promoted and will leave his post at Poole’s Magna Academy this summer.

Richard Tutt’s controversial leadership has seen the school earn Outstanding grades from Ofsted and it was recently named as the top-performing school in the south west using the Progress 8 measure.

His tough stance has led to the Canford Heath school being over-subscribed every year.

But some parents have removed their children because they do not agree with the rules.

Mr Tutt has faced criticism for regulations such as “silent transitioning” between lessons.

Pupils have been punished and put into isolation for breaches such as having a ruler that’s too short or a pencil case the wrong size.

And summer holiday work packs and extra lessons after school and at weekends are the norm.

Mr Tutt, who has been at Magna Academy since it was founded in 2013, will become the new Regional Chief Executive Officer for the Aspirations Academies Trust.

The Trust, which includes Magna, The Jewell Academy in Bournemouth and The Ocean Academy in Poole, has just announced it is taking over Budmouth College in Weymouth, which is currently in special measures. It is also responsible for the Atlantic Academy in Portland.

Mr Tutt said: “I love Magna, and it has been a very hard decision for me to leave the day-to-day life of the academy. Magna will be an inspiration to Atlantic and Budmouth as they grow in stature.”

Mr Tutt has written to parents to tell them he will be stepping down from his current role on August 31.

He told them: “Magna will continue to be extremely important to me in my new role. Magna will always be part of my DNA and be very special to me.I have absolutely loved being the Principal of Magna and working in partnership with you for the past six years.”

The role of Principal at Magna is being advertised nationally this week.

Mr Tutt added: “I will continue to be heavily involved in the life of Magna. I am very confident it will go from strength to strength.”