Failing school to ge acting head teacher
By Jo Deeks on Thursday, 24th February 2000.
A NEW acting Headteacher will take over at a failing school in Haverhill next month, following an unsuccessful campaign to persuade its former head to stay.
Lynne Austin, who is head of Hardwick Middle School in Bury, will take over at Castle Hill Middle School in Haverhill on March 8.
Parents will receive letters telling them that Mrs Austin is to replace Jean Waite, who resigned last week.
A storm of protest from parents and pupils followed news that Mrs Waite was reluctantly stepping down for the good of the school.
In a letter to parents, she said she could not "jump through the hoops" that Government inspectors wanted her to.
Adrian Williams, a senior education officer for Suffolk, said Mrs Austin would stay until the school was out of special measures, and he was confident she would be able to turn it around. The school has until May 2001 to raise standards or it could close.
Mr Williams said Mrs Austin was a successful head, who for several years had run a school of a similar size and profile to Castle Hill, where around a third of pupils have special needs.
"I am confident she will be able to raise standards, but it is a question of timing and how long these things take.
"I know people did not want Jean Waite to go and we acknowledge all the hard work she has put into the school, but I don't think she could face more inspections.
"She has resigned and we had to act quickly for the sake of the school and its pupils.
"I am sure Mrs Austin knows it is not going to be easy, but she is willing to take on the challenge and is raring to go," Mr Williams said.
Lynne Austin, who is head of Hardwick Middle School in Bury, will take over at Castle Hill Middle School in Haverhill on March 8.
Parents will receive letters telling them that Mrs Austin is to replace Jean Waite, who resigned last week.
A storm of protest from parents and pupils followed news that Mrs Waite was reluctantly stepping down for the good of the school.
In a letter to parents, she said she could not "jump through the hoops" that Government inspectors wanted her to.
Adrian Williams, a senior education officer for Suffolk, said Mrs Austin would stay until the school was out of special measures, and he was confident she would be able to turn it around. The school has until May 2001 to raise standards or it could close.
Mr Williams said Mrs Austin was a successful head, who for several years had run a school of a similar size and profile to Castle Hill, where around a third of pupils have special needs.
"I am confident she will be able to raise standards, but it is a question of timing and how long these things take.
"I know people did not want Jean Waite to go and we acknowledge all the hard work she has put into the school, but I don't think she could face more inspections.
"She has resigned and we had to act quickly for the sake of the school and its pupils.
"I am sure Mrs Austin knows it is not going to be easy, but she is willing to take on the challenge and is raring to go," Mr Williams said.
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