Headteacher moves to pastures new (From Messenger Newspapers)

Headteacher moves to pastures new

11:50am Friday 13th March 2009 in News

A HEADTEACHER who turned around the fortunes of a failing school placed in special measures by Ofsted, has announced he’s leaving.

Derek Davies, whose been in charge at Stretford High School for the past five years, told Messenger that although he was sad to be going when the school breaks for Easter, he leaves it in a far better shape than when he joined in 2004.

Derek - who became the youngest head in Trafford when he took charge of the Great Stone Road school at the age of 38 - said presiding over an ‘outstanding’ Ofsted report last year had been hugely satisfying experience.

“I came to Trafford in 1987 when I was at Lostock and I was there for 17 years. I started as a drama teacher and eventually became deputy head.

“In 2004 I went to Stretford High after the school was put in special measures. Last year it was given an ‘outstanding’ Ofsted report, and for a school to do that in four years is a massive achievement and one that was very satisfying for me personally, the staff and the pupils.“Leaving has been one of the most difficult decisions to make as my heart is in the school and the pupils themselves, but I feel it’s a much different place from when I took it over.

“It’s all about a new challenge and although the school I’m going to isn’t in special measure, I will be overseeing a merger of two singe sex schools which is the challenge this time.”