THE new head of one of Manchester's flagship academy schools has changed her mind about taking the job - just four weeks after her appointment was announced.

Alyson Byrne was due to take over the Co-operative Academy in north Manchester next year.

But she reversed her decision after parents at her current school begged her to stay on.

Education bosses last month announced the names of principals who would lead six news academies, four of which will replace existing secondaries.

Mrs Byrne was to head up a new finance-themed school which would replace Plant Hill Arts College in Higher Blackley.

But she has decided to stay put after governors and pupils at The Derby High in Bury wrote letters urging her to remain.

Mrs Byrne, a former English teacher who has worked in Wigan, Bolton and the Middle East, has been responsible for a steady improvement in GCSE results at The Derby since taking charge in 2002.

She told the M.E.N: "It was a very difficult decision to make but after our results were published in late August, I realised the school had a real chance of being one of the best of its kind in the country.

"I am absolutely delighted to be continuing as headteacher. I look forward to building on our present success in the years to come.

"I enjoyed working with the sponsors and am sure that the academies will be a great success."

The academies will focus on topics such as healthcare, construction and media and be backed by top firms including BT, Bovis and Manchester Airport which will have a say on curriculums.

The new principals, who are each on six-figure salaries, will take up their posts in January.

None of the existing schools' heads have been appointed to lead the new academies and will continue to manage their schools while the new principals focus on preparation work. Critics have complained many sponsoring bodies have no background in education, but government ministers say that successful businesses can give new direction to struggling schools.

Manchester council said it was 'disappointed' by the Mrs Byrne's decision to reject the job but said work was already under way to find a replacement for the 900-place school due to open in 2010.

John Edwards, deputy director of children's services, said: "Whilst the withdrawal at this early stage of one of the principals-designate from our city-wide academies programme is disappointing, we're working closely with the Co-operative Academy and are confident of making another appointment to this post in the very near future."

A spokesman for the Manchester-based Co-op Group, which backs a number of secondary schools across the country, said the organisation 'regretted' Mrs Byrne's withdrawal.