THE head of a top special school praised by inspectors for his "outstanding leadership" has been suspended.
Dr Peter Cunningham, who has been principal of Ceara School in Lurgan for 22 years, was placed on precautionary suspension before the end of the summer term.
It is understood that shortly after becoming the new education minister, Peter Weir was sent a letter of complaint about Dr Cunningham.
It is understood the same letter was also sent to Department of Education permanent secretary Paul Sweeney and Education Authority (EA) chief executive Gavin Boyd.
The letters were received a short time before the precautionary suspension began.
The EA said it could not provide details but it is understood that the investigation does not relate to pupils.
Ceara educates pupils aged from three to 19 years of age who have severe learning difficulties.
This includes those with profound and multiple learning difficulties, complex healthcare needs in conjunction with severe learning difficulties and some who also exhibit challenging behaviour.
The school was last inspected in 2008 and Dr Cunningham was said at that time to demonstrate "strong and caring leadership and very effective management".
"He shows clear strategic leadership ensuring a vision and a clear educational direction for the work of the school," the inspection report said.
Inspectors added that Ceara was "an outstanding school where the pupils achieve well in a safe, secure and happy environment".
Pupils there made good progress and engaged positively with the school curriculum which was appropriate to their needs, they said.
Dr Cunningham, who received the MBE for services to education in 2011, is a leading figure in the campaign for post-SEN (special educational needs) provision and has challenged Executive ministers to work together to help pupils with complex needs when their formal education ends.
He has argued that there is a paucity of post-educational placements for young people beyond the age of 19 meaning the excellent work of schools is being rapidly undone.
