The headteacher from the Educating Greater Manchester TV series has quit, claiming the council has a “personal vendetta” against him.
In a letter posted on Twitter, Drew Povey said he resigned following his suspension from Harrop Fold School in Little Hulton, Salford.
Three other members of staff were suspended as part of the investigation into “administrative errors”.
Mr Povey handed in his resignation as executive head on Tuesday, citing the negative impact his suspension was having on the school and pupils.
He also claimed the council had previously offered him money to “walk away”.
The time has arrived where I can no longer sit quietly under the threat of ‘you cannot comment or you will breach your code of conduct’ I’m speaking up for myself but also all the leaders who have been in touch to say the same happened to them #TakeAStand Please share everyone pic.twitter.com/KOh2nDsFIo
— Drew Povey (@drewpovey) September 18, 2018
His tweet read: “The time has arrived where I can no longer sit quietly under the threat of ‘you cannot comment or you will breach your code of conduct’.
“I’m speaking up for myself but also all the leaders who have been in touch to say the same happened to them #TakeAStand”
In his resignation letter, Mr Povey said he was suspended in July and he understood this was down to administrative mistakes involving a very small number of pupils about how attendance, exclusions and home schooling were recorded.
While he said he took full responsibility for the errors, he claimed he had been unfairly pursued.
Mr Povey wrote: “Parents and pupils are unsettled, and the media are speculating as to what has gone on that is so serious to warrant my suspension and that of three other members of staff.
“I am at a loss to understand the heavy handed approach adopted by the council, which appears to have completely ignored the best interests of the students, staff and school.”
He added: “This feels very much like a personal vendetta and I hope that by removing myself from the situation, that some semblance of normality will return to the school, for the benefit of all.”
Salford City Councillor, Lisa Stone, lead member for children’s and young people’s services, said: “I am disappointed that Mr Povey has made public some details of a confidential governor’s investigation.
“The council completely refutes the allegation that this is a personal vendetta or that Mr Povey was ever offered money to ‘walk away’.
“In my experience governors do not launch investigations and suspend senior members of staff for mere administrative errors.”
She added it was in nobody’s interest to rush the investigation which is wide-ranging and will continue in the interests of the school, pupils, parents and the members of staff who remain suspended.