New leadership team at troubled school is handed £2m windfall

A NEW headteacher at a beleaguered school has announced it will get £2m to help turn around its fortunes.

A new leadership team is now in place at Graham School in Scarborough following the retirement of Helen McEvoy after three troubled years as its headteacher. The incoming team is led by Rob Pritchard, who is now the school’s executive headteacher while Paul Brockwell will be Ms McEvoy’s replacement.

reported in February that Ofsted inspectors had warned urgent action was needed to address a catalogue of problems including a rise in pupil absences and disruption in lessons.

Mr Brockwell said: “We want the school to become a much bigger part of the community. We know it’s had a turbulent time, this is a time to do things right to make sure the kids do better so their life opportunities moving forward are increased.”

Mr Pritchard and Mr Brockwell are part of the Yorkshire Teaching School Alliance which includes 26 secondary schools, the University of York, Leeds Beckett University, York St John University and Leeds Trinity University. Mr Pritchard, who is the alliance’s lead for school to school support, has been teaching for 30 years and is a former Ofsted inspector.

A merger of the lower and upper schools has been brought forward to June meaning all 1,100 pupils will be in one building. Improvements have already been made at the upper school including upgrading toilets, offices and classrooms. The £2m in funding from North Yorkshire County Council will finance eight classrooms, offices and toilets, with hopes for the revamped site to be open by September 2018.