Head and four staff to quit at failing school
AHEADTEACHER has handed in his notice alongside four other senior members of staff at a failing high school.
Colin Short has resigned as head of Reddish Vale High School after 15 years at the school.
It has been revealed that deputy head, James Tipping, and assistant head Dean Thomas-Lowde, are leaving as well as the academy bursar and site manager.
Bosses at Reddish Vale High School Academy Trust say the five separate departures are not linked.
Mr Short informed school governors of his decision on Tuesday night (January 31). He will stay on as head until the end of the school term.
The head told our sister paper the M.E.N. he had resigned due to personal reasons. He said his decision was not related to the resignations of the other staff.
In a message to parents, the chair of governors, Pete McCaldon, said: “This is a sad day as Mr Short has been at the school as a teacher and headteacher for 15 years and has been unstinting in his hard work, loyalty and contribution both to the school and the local community.
“Over the last few years he has overseen the improvement to the school including the excellent exam results last summer.
“I am sure you will wish to join me to thank him for his dedication to the school and to wish him the very best in his new endeavours.
“The school have also seen a number of other staff changes who have, for personal reasons, chosen to leave the school including Mr Tipping, Mr ThomasLowde, Ms Cox and Mr Ablett.
“Again, the school have been grateful for their devotion to the children, school and the local community over their years of service, they will be sorely missed but, again, we wish them well in their future undertakings.”
Reddish Vale High School, an independent academy, was the subject of a damning Ofsted report in 2014.
Inspectors put the school in special measures after it was judged to be critical in all areas. But subsequent follow up visits had revealed signs of improvement at the school.
It was formally taken out of special measures in February 2016 but is still rated as ‘inadequate’ by Ofsted.
Mr Short and Mr McCaldon did not wish to issue a separate statement regarding the matter.