A school remains without its permanent headteacher as an investigation continues a month longer than expected.

James Fox, headteacher at Portslade Aldridge Community Academy (PACA), took a leave of absence in September as an investigation into student registrations was launched.

After initially saying the investigation would be concluded by the October half term, the school has told The Argus it now has no idea when it will reach a final verdict.

With no end in sight Brighton and Hove City councillors have mounted pressure on the school to deliver answers.

Labour councillor for North Portslade Bob Carden said: “To be quite truthful, I haven’t heard a thing from them.

“When it became an academy, the local community was pushed out of it all – they don’t get a say in anything and they don’t get to know what’s going on.

“There are only four councillors in Portslade, and we’re all very approachable, but not one of us has been told a thing and that is terribly disappointing.

“When the sponsors took over at the college we wanted two things – for it to stay as one with the youth and sport services and for the old headteacher Stuart McLaughlin to stay.

“He was fantastic and he’s the reason the grades went up, not this new lot.

“I am absolutely appalled at the way it’s gone at the school – it’s a non-entity.”

PACA had called in a headteacher from Lancashire to help oversee the running of the school while James Fox is away.

It has since brought in Peter Marchant, the deputy of the Brighton Aldridge Community Academy – its sister school.

Labour councillor for North Portslade Penny Gilbey said she would contact the director of children’s services to seek clarity on the situation, which has left PACA without a permanent headteacher for nearly 12 weeks.

She added: “We’re all in the dark about the whole situation.

“People will be choosing their schools soon and it remains to be seen whether this will affect PACA’s admissions.

“Secondary school places in the city are at a premium, and I don’t know how people will be choosing, but it may well have an impact.”