New head for school in leadership controversy (From Echo)

New head for school in leadership controversy

2:30pm Monday 8th March 2010 in

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A SCHOOL which has been at the centre of a leadership storm will get a new headteacher.

Parents of pupils at Hadleigh Junior School are pleased current headteacher Katherine Mansfield, who is pregnant, has handed in her resignation.

They said it was not a reflection on her, but they were just keen for consistency.

The school, which has had four different heads in five years, came under fire from parents and Ofsted inspectors over a lack of leadership consistency.

In February, parents compiled a petition calling for action when Mrs Mansfield announced she was going on maternity leave in May – her second period of maternity leave since January 2008.

Although Mrs Mansfield proved to be an effective leader, parents weren’t happy that during her previous absence, the school was left with a part-time replacement head.

One 30-year-old mum, who asked not to be named said: “Parents are all very relieved this seems to be getting sorted out at last.

“This has never been a personal attack on Mrs Mansfield, but when she went off on maternity leave before, the school was left with a seconded headteacher for just one-and-a-half days a week.

“It meant the children and the school as a whole were suffering.

“We were worried when she went off again, the same thing would happen. The children need and deserve strong leadership and some consistency.”

Mrs Mansfield, who is pregnant with her fourth child, has now decided to leave permanently.

She said she made her decision so she can focus on raising her family. She said: “I’ve really enjoyed being here and I feel I did achieve a heck of a lot during my first year-and-a-half.

“We are now advertising for a full-time replacement headteacher which I think is a very positive move. This school has a great capacity to improve and move forward.”

Deputy headteacher David Evans, added: “We will be sorry to see Mrs Mansfield leave.

“We hope parents will be happy there will be a full-time replacement and will see it as a step closer to taking the school forward and into a new chapter.”

Hadleigh Juniors is a foundation school meaning it is run by its own board of governors rather than the local authority. It received a “satisfactory” rating from Ofsted last year.

Mrs Mansfield, has been credited with introducing a number of activities, clubs and measures into the troubled school, which will celebrate its centenary in October.