'Superhead' resigns following IT procurement scandal

Greg Wallace leaves his role as leader of five primary schools after being suspended for giving IT deal to boyfriend's company

A so-called "superhead" once hailed by Michael Gove as "magnificent" has stood down from his role amid an investigation into an IT deal he handed to his boyfriend's company.

Principal of Hackney's Best Start Federation and leader of five primary schools Greg Wallace was suspended in the summer following the launch of the investigation, but he has now stood down from the role.

Wallace handed an IT deal to C2 Technology, run by his partner Tony Zangoura's firm, but at the time of his suspension he insisted he had always been open about their relationship and that it was never a secret.

Hackney Borough Council did not respond to a Freedom of Information request sent by CRN back in the summer for details of the IT contract.

Upon his resignation, Wallace said his work with the Best Start Federation had made a difference to children's lives, according to the London Evening Standard.

"Being headteacher at Woodberry Down [one of the five schools] was the hardest thing I ever did, but also the best. The Best Start Federation made a huge impact. We transformed schools that had been left to fail for years."

Rita Krishna, Cabinet member for children's services at Hackney, said: "Our priority is to ensure children's education is not disrupted. We will publish the findings of the investigation in due course."

Education secretary Michael Gove once hailed Wallace as one of his Magnificent Seven superheads running state schools in the country.