CAROL Gormley has quit as head teacher of Huddersfield’s biggest school.
After the Examiner broke the story yesterday that she was on ‘gardening leave’ from Colne Valley Specialist Arts College, both Ms Gormley and Kirklees Council have confirmed she has left her post.
The news follows the school being placed in special measures after a damning report by Ofsted inspectors.
A council spokesman said: “Carol Gormley is not on gardening leave. Ms Gormley is stepping down from her position with immediate effect.”
Ms Gormley said: “It is with great sadness that I am stepping down from my role as head teacher of Colne Valley Specialist Arts College.
“There is no doubt that we had made real progress as a school over the last five years and that we had made a difference to the lives of many young people in the Colne Valley.
“I would like to wish the staff, students and governors every success in the future.”
Kirklees Council was unable to say whether Ms Gormley would continue to be paid until the end of term.
Associate head teacher Judith Franklin, who has been at the school for about 10 years and who also teaches business studies, will take over as acting head until a replacement is found.
She will work alongside the school’s senior leadership team and leading education officers from Kirklees.
The council is also searching for a designated National Support School to come in and link with Colne Valley to help it to improve.
A council spokesman said: “We are working closely with the school to help it move forward and continue to progress.
“Further details will be made available as soon as possible. In the meantime, parents can be reassured that the existing senior leadership team are working on a school action plan.
“The priority for all concerned is to implement the action plan to secure rapid improvements where they are needed and to maintain the school’s calm and purposeful work.
“We are working in partnership with staff to ensure that any disruption to normal school life remains at an absolute minimum. We are confident that this will continue to be the case.”
During yesterday’s lessons, each of the secondary school’s 1,400 pupils was issued with a letter to take home to parents from Helen Singleton, chair of governors.
The letter contained much of the Kirklees Council statement and added: “Please be reassured that the school’s senior leadership team, led by Mrs Judith Franklin and the local authority, are working together and will ensure business as usual.
“Your child’s education is of paramount importance.”
The Kirklees spokesman said that further details of the action plan should be announced next week.
Carol Gormley took over as head teacher in April 2008, having previously been acting head at Bradfield School, Sheffield.
Colne Valley Specialist Arts College received a damning report from Ofsted on February 5, following a visit by inspectors before Christmas.
The school was put into and remains in ‘special measures’, meaning it requires outside help to improve, despite posting its best-ever GCSE results in January of this year.
