The chairman and entire board of trustees at the education trust embroiled in the alleged "Trojan Horse" radical Islamic takeover plot has resigned.
Tahir Alam announced he and his trustees were quitting their posts after stinging criticism of Park View Educational Trust, of which he was chair, by schools watchdog Ofsted.
He made the announcement in a dramatic twist outside the gates of the controversial Park View Academy in Birmingham.
The trust was criticised heavily after the Trojan Horse allegations were probed, with three schools placed in special measures by Ofsted.
Mr Alam has always denied any wrongdoing after an anonymous letter alleging a Muslim takeover plot, and branded the investigations it triggered "a witch hunt".
Mr Alam launched a scathing attack on outgoing Education Secretary Michael Gove, Ofsted and others, as he announced he would be standing down.
After four months of inspections and scrutiny, the capacity of the trust's three schools - Park View, Golden Hillock and Nansen - to continue to offer an outstanding education "is at risk of being seriously compromised", he said.
Mr Alam went on: "We believe strongly that we have justice on our side, and we know we have the support of many from within and outside Birmingham, including our students, parents and members of staff.
"However, we are not prepared to subject our school communities to the further period of intense and bitter pressure that our continuing as members of Park View Educational Trust will see them face.
"And it is for this reason, and with a deep sense of injustice and sadness, that today we are announcing our intention to resign our positions at Park View Educational Trust and allow new people to assume responsibility with the aim of continuing the success of our schools."
Mr Alam branded the effect of the allegations "appalling" as he bemoaned the damage to Park View School's reputation.
In a statement, Mr Alam said he and the trust's other trustees were "immensely proud" of the role they had played in improving Park View and raising achievement at Nansen and Golden Hillock.
He said the trust had been the victim of "a vicious and co-ordinated offensive" by Ofsted, the Education Funding Agency (EFA) and the Department for Education (DfE) which carried out eight inspections over four months.
However, Mr Alam also acknowledged there had been "genuine concerns" from current staff, although the atmosphere of "innuendo and rumour" had seen these "blown out of all proportion".
