Model change for academy
Leadership structure to be altered after departure of head teacher
A YIEWSLEY academy school has deployed a new ‘leadership model’ after the sudden departure of their head teacher, less than a year after his appointment.
Parents of pupils attending Stockley Academy demanded answers after some were informed by their children that principal Leo Gilbert had left, rather than being offered an explanation by the school’s chair of governors.
The academy school has now revealed, after ‘carefully considering strategic advice’, the governing body has adopted a new leadership model that has a track record of success in many similar bodies.
It sees an executive principal appointment whose role will be to ensure the correct strategic direction for Stockley Academy and build capacity, as well as to support and coach a new principal.
Robert Dore has taken up the role of executive principal and will also be the interim principal of Stockley Academy until the new appointment.
As well as increasing capacity in the academy’s senior leadership team, he will be looking at some changes to the curriculum offer which more closely match the needs of the pupils.
A spokesperson for Stockley Academy said: “Mr Dore has an excellent record of steering schools out of special measures, raising educational achievement and working with all stakeholders, local employers and the wider community to seek out opportunities for students.
“Mr Dore will be available to students, teachers and parents as expected of any academy leader, but he has a special brief to develop stronger communication and engagement with all parents and carers.”
The school will soon start the process of appointing a new principal.
The governing body believes that this will enhance the ability and sustainability of the academy to meet students’ needs and to ensure the progress to which it is committed.
Stockley Academy thanked the previous principal Leo Gilbert who, they say, has left to pursue new employment opportunities.
Mr Gilbert was appointed as head teacher just before an Ofsted inspection, in June 2015, put the school into special measures after a damning ‘inadequate’ report.
The then newly-appointed head was motivated to make changes and previously told the Gazette he was confident he could get the academy off special measures after a year, and hoped for an outstanding rating in three or four years.