A proposed controversial merger between two education trusts has “collapsed” after the boss of one suddenly quit and the other school group pulled out.

The plan to unite schools in the Rainham Mark Educational Trust with Veritas Multi Academy Trust, based in Deal, has been on the table for more than six months.

Some parents branded it “unethical” as they felt the deal was being brokered by the same person, the acting chief executive of RMET and the current CEO of Veritas, which they claimed was a conflict of interest.

But despite objections, the merger looked set to go ahead with RMET chairman David Valentine writing to parents only last month saying they were moving on to the next stage of the process.

However, it’s since been announced that Mr Valentine was resigning with “immediate effect” citing “personal reasons”.

This was followed by a statement from Veritas issued to KentOnline this week announcing its withdrawal because of “a sequence of events” at RMET and an alleged “instability of governance”.

Finally, RMET has confirmed the merger was off because “important deliberations and recent changes to internal governance structures”.

When first mooted at the end of last year, the link emerged between Dr Kerry Jordan-Daus, an experienced secondary school teacher and university lecturer who is acting chief executive of RMET, and the current chief executive of Veritas.

Soon after, a Department for Education survey revealed that Veritas was ranked as the second worst performing academy in England.

The government table looking into standards expected by key stage two pupils was on average 61 per cent. Veritas scored 35 per cent, making it 648th out of 649 similar academies in the country.

RMET oversees Rainham Mark Grammar School, Twydall Primary School and Riverside Primary School in Rainham. Schools run by Veritas are Warden House in Deal, Pilgrims’ Way in Canterbury and Mundella Primary in Folkestone.

Mr Valentine told KentOnline he resigned two weeks ago before the half-term break, and he was now a “private person” and unaware of what action the board was now taking.

In a letter to parents and carers, RMET said: “In the light of the change, the Trust Board will be convening over the coming days to discuss the appropriate next steps.

“During this transitional period, our vice-chair, Lee Phipps-Bartley, will step in to provide support and continuity in governance until the next scheduled Trust Board meeting.

“At that meeting, the election of a new Chairman of Trustees will be formally tabled and discussed.”

It concluded that it understood this news “may raise questions and prompt further discussion”.

Mum Sam Monk, 38, who has children at Rainham Mark and Riverside, said: “I don’t know all the ins and outs of why the merger has collapsed, but I do firmly believe that it was unethical from the start, and the way it’s ended does little to disprove that.

“I remain convinced this merger was not in the best interest of the RMET trust or its children, and I hope the trust can now rebuild and move forward.”

She earlier told us: “We have been told we would be sharing and benefiting from each other’s facilities.

“But how can a grammar school in Rainham benefit from a primary an hour away down the road?

Dad Dave Hunt, 42, from Twydall, whose daughter goes to Riverside, earlier expressed fears that standards would drop if the merger went ahead.

He told KentOnline previously: “We know that they (Veritas) have come out badly in this survey, so why has it even reached the consultation stage?”