THE headteacher of Didcot Girls’ School, who this week announced she was retiring, fired a broadside at the Government for pushing through “disgraceful” education reforms.

Paula Taylor-Moore, 59, who has been in education for 30 years — running Didcot Girls’ School for the past six – wrote to parents last week to announce her retirement.

Deputy headteacher Fernand Dierckens will lead the school until a new headteacher is appointed in early 2010.

Mrs Taylor-Moore said it was “the right time to leave”.

But in a remarkable outburst she said: “Education has become even more subject to the politics of the moment and I feel is losing its way in a sea of unconnected and discordant government edicts which do not enhance learning for students “I think the whole way in which the 14-19 reforms have been handled has been an absolute disgrace.

“We have been dragged into a diploma system before it is ready and against the wishes of most people.

“The whole issue reminds me of the emperor's new clothes. It might be a very good idea to improve opportunities for students to take vocational qualifications but this is not the way forward.

“The Government changes its mind constantly — shall we have a science diploma and a humanities diploma or shall we not?

“It has not even agreed what functional skills pattern it will use.”

Ofsted recently rated the school satisfactory — a grade lower than the previous inspection in 2006 when it was rated good with outstanding features.

Inspectors highlighted the “disruptive behaviour” of some pupils and Mrs Taylor-Moore, who is also chairman of the Oxfordshire Secondary Schools’ Headteachers Association, said it was about 25 girls causing trouble.

David Locke, chairman of governors, said: “We are facing up to the issues raised in the Ofsted report and we are putting together an action plan to more forward.

“It’s important that we turn it around because Didcot Girls’ School has always been an excellent school.

“There are some great things that go on in the school and I think it’s important that the community gets behind the school now.”

Mrs Taylor-Moore added: “There are the constant changes in responsibilities for headteachers.

“I think we have reached the point where we seem to be responsible for everything from relieving child poverty to developing communities.

“Policy seems to be made through an announcement on Radio Four, which I now listen to every morning in case I miss the latest wheeze.

“This week's contribution was about parent power — no details of how such a system might work or how we might do this.”

Meanwhile, parents reacted with surprise at her announcement to quit.

Ellie McConnell, 32, of Kynaston Road, Didcot, who has a 13-year-old daughter at the school, said: “This is the first I’ve heard she is leaving. It’s a concern. It’s not really a good time to be leaving.”

Ian Davies, of Didcot, who has a 12-year-old daughter at the school, said: “It is a another blow for the school.

“She has been at the school a long time and seemed to know what she was doing.”