Parents of Colne Valley High pupils will receive a letter this evening informing them that headteacher Maggie Dunn is leaving at the end of May.
Some will be disappointed at her departure. She had become a popular and approachable figure at the school since arriving 11 months ago.
Meetings were held with staff at the comprehensive and its partner school, The Mirfield Free Grammar (MFG), yesterday afternoon to officially inform them of leadership arrangements going forward.
Lorraine Barker, who was brought in to help Colne Valley last April in her capacity as a National Leader of Education, will take over the day-to-day running of the school from next Tuesday, April 1 in her role as executive principal.
Mrs Barker stressed the continuity of the arrangement, as she has overseen the running of the school for the last 11 months and appointed Ms Dunn as acting headteacher.
Next week, the school is due to wipe the slate clean with Ofsted as it converts to an academy, which means it is a new school and out of Special Measures. Ofsted will re-inspect within 18 months, probably in autumn 2015.
Ms Dunn is a leaving to take up a post as headteacher at a similar-sized secondary, Ridgewood School in Scawsby, Doncaster. It was rated as Requires Improvement by Ofsted and is also on a journey to become good.
She has lived in Colne and Holme valleys for past 30 years and has connections to the area through music and the brass band movement. She has been at MFG for past 16 years, latterly as deputy head, during a period of significant change for the school, judged Outstanding at its past two Ofsted inspections. She also worked with All Saints Catholic College.
She said: “I believe that Colne Valley High School is on the way to becoming a Good, and subsequently Outstanding, school. The students and staff have worked very hard over the past year to reshape all of their attitudes to learning and to be more ambitious for themselves.
“It has been a privilege to be part of the journey the school is now making, and to work with the young people and community in the Colne Valley to begin to work towards creating the outstanding comprehensive school the valley deserves.”
Mrs Barker, who has worked with Ms Dunn for 14 years, said: “I would like to thank Maggie for her significant contribution to Colne Valley and wish her all the very best in her new job, where she will be at the helm of her own school.
“I will remain at the helm of Colne Valley, where it will be business as usual . We will continue on our journey and I am confident we will be in good shape when Ofsted comes in for its next inspection.”
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