The Voice of Spalding and South Holland
Headteacher Will Scott has left his position at Spalding Academy with immediate effect.
Mr Scott resigned and has been replaced by the executive headteacher of South Lincolnshire Academies Trust, Laurence Reilly, who is also headteacher at Bourne Academy.
Mr Scott – whose official title was principal – has not given a reason for his decision, but told parents and carers of the school’s pupils: “There has been progress at the school over the past few years, although the improvement in student outcomes has been far slower than I had hoped for.
“I feel that Spalding Academy is now entering a new and exciting chapter and will hugely benefit from the recently introduced sponsorship by the South Lincolnshire Academies Trust.”
Mr Reilly informed parents and carers of the change in leadership in a letter dated September 19.
He wrote: “I am writing to inform you about a change in leadership at Spalding Academy. Mr Will Scott, previously headteacher of Sir John Gleed School, has resigned and has been replaced from today by the executive headteacher of the South Lincolnshire Academies Trust (SLAT), Mr Laurence Reilly. Mr Reilly will also remain as headteacher of the trust’s other school, Bourne Academy.
“Mr Scott has requested that we pass on the following message to parents/carers: “I have made a decision to leave Spalding Academy from today. It has not been an easy decision to make but I feel the time is right for me to leave and I have to make it clear the decision to leave the school is mine.
“I have enjoyed my time working at Gleed Boys’ and Sir John Gleed School since 2006 and there have been many changes during that time. I would like to thank the students, staff, parents and governors for all the support they have given me, particularly during my time as headteacher of Sir John Gleed School.
“There has been progress at the school over the past few years, although the improvement in student outcomes has been far slower than I had hoped for. I feel that Spalding Academy is now entering a new and exciting chapter and will hugely benefit from the recently introduced sponsorship by the South Lincolnshire Academies Trust.
“We have a huge responsibility to give these wonderful students the very best every single day.
“They just deserve it. I would like to wish the school every success for the future.’”
Sir John Gleed School became Spalding Academy on September 1.
The letter went on to say: “To assist in the challenge of raising standards in both the Spalding and Bourne Academies, Mr Reilly will be assisted by the SLAT Deputy Executive Headteacher, Mrs Lucy Conley. Mr Reilly and Mrs Conley have worked together over the past eight years at Bourne Academy and have proven track record of establishing and maintaining school improvement.
“In addition, the Trust has set up an Operational Rapid Improvement Team (ORIT) which will be responsible for delivering the Development Plan targets in both schools, with a particular focus at Spalding Academy of improving student outcomes.
“The latter is the biggest challenge at Spalding with results of 31% in 2014, 32% in 2015 and 33% in 2016 (in terms of the proportion of students gaining 5 or more A* to C grades at GCSE including English and mathematics). The floor standard set by the Government is 40%; at Bourne Academy in 2016, 66% achieved this level, with a cohort similar to that at the Sir John Gleed School.
“The students and staff have responded very positively to the significant changes that have already been introduced, i.e. in terms of the curriculum, behavioural systems, assessment and teaching methodology.
“The site is being made more secure by enclosing it with appropriate fencing and security gates, there has also been refurbishment of the reception area and main corridor and students have been allocated new playground areas to improve communication and support for them during morning breaks and lunchtimes.
“Following an extremely positive start to the academic year, we are looking forward to working in partnership with the Spalding Academy community for the benefit of all the students who attend the school.
“Our aim will be to improve outcomes for students from 2017.”
