Devizes schools may unite under one headteacher (From This Is Wiltshire)

Devizes schools may unite under one headteacher

7:00am Saturday 20th March 2010 in

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Southbroom infants and Junior schools could have one headteacher if plans to collaborate are approved.

The governors of both schools have told parents that they are considering an executive headteacher for both schools and will make a decision on March 29.

The idea for a shared head is being pursued as David Jopling, headteacher of Southbroom Junior School, is leaving in the summer. He is moving to Devon.

An executive headteacher would have overall responsibility for both schools while each school would have a senior teacher in charge of the day-to-day management.

In a letter to all the parents the governors said both schools would remain independent, keep their identity and stay at their present locations; the infants in Southbroom Road and the juniors in Nursteed Road.

Both governing bodies will remain but a joint executive committee would be created that will focus upon school improvement.

The executive headteacher’s role would be to drive forward plans to bring the best of both schools together. Jan Wilson, headteacher of Southbroom Infants for the past 12 years, said: “We have always worked very closely together and have always had close relationships. We are working on a joint numeracy project at the moment.

“Collaboration would involve us working more closely together in order to improve the transition as pupils move through all the primary years.

“There is something special about leaving the infants school and going on to junior school and we want to keep that.”

Mrs Wilson said she had no plans to leave the school.

Mr Jopling has been a teacher at Southbroom Junior School for 15 years and headteacher for eight years.

He said: “Although both schools are far apart physically we work closely together and we were looking to work more closely together even if I hadn’t been moving on.

“This is an opportunity to work even more closely than we are at the moment.”