THE new temporary boss of troubled Danesfield School, Williton, has offered to meet parents on a weekly basis while he attempts to turn around its fortunes.

David Terry took over as interim headteacher just before the end of the school year after Danesfield was forced to close suddenly for a week because it did not have enough senior staff.

Mr Terry is introducing a weekly drop-in session for parents to meet him and interim deputy headteachers Geeta Verell and Mark Foden.

It was an opportunity for parents to ‘talk with us individually about your child and raise any things that we need to know and do’.

Mr Terry said he would also start a monthly ‘You Said - We Do’ forum for parents to tell the team ‘things that will help us improve the school’ and to report back to parents on what had been done.

He said Ms Verell and Mr Foden were ‘vastly experienced colleagues who have also committed their time and expertise to support the school’.

Mr Terry said: “We have committed to stay with you over the next term or so to ensure stability until an excellent substantive headteacher is in post.

“We have all made a commitment to the school and the young people for a significant amount of time.

“Indeed, Mark and myself will be re-locating from our homes, Shropshire and Lancashire, respectively, to live in Somerset until our duties are completed.”

Mr Terry said he was telling this to parents as ‘a sign of our good faith in what can be achieved with you to improve the school’.

He said: “It is fair to say we are very experienced school leaders, and we have all been headteachers in our own right in various schools over the years.

“We are aware of the challenges that have faced Danesfield very recently and as parents ourselves we want to work with the whole school community to get the best for your young people.”

Mr Terry said a number of ‘fantastic’ staff were leaving Danesfield and interviews were being held with a view to new teachers starting in September.