A WEST Somerset school trying to improve its reputation with Government education inspectors is to see the appointment of what was said to be its twelfth head in 12 years.
Danesfield Middle School, in Williton, has been embroiled in controversies stretching back to 2014 when the then-head resigned after one of his staff allegedly taped pupils’ mouths shut.
Since then, Ofsted has repeatedly rated the Church of England faith-based school as ‘requires improvement’.
Last year, the school was closed without warning for a week at the end of the academic year due to suddenly not having enough senior leadership team members at work.
Shortly before Christmas, interim deputy headteacher Mark Foden had his job terminated after starting an investigation into alleged bullying among staff.
Then, last month saw the collapse of an intended merger between Minehead-based Beacon Education, the trust which runs Danesfield, with the larger Bath and Wells Multi Academy Trust (BWMAT).
Now, interim headteacher David Terry, who was brought in last summer to help turn around the school, is to leave at the end of the current term.
He will be replaced as interim head by Wayne Randle, who has joined the Danesfield staff as an associate headteacher.
Mr Terry said in a message to parents Mr Randle was ‘an experienced headteacher who will be working with myself and staff to get to know the school and pupils really well before becoming the interim headteacher at Easter’.
He said: “I know that he is really looking forward to working with everybody and ensuring everything goes well over the summer term.
“Beacon trust are continuing their search for a substantive headteacher and I am sure will keep you informed of developments.”
Mr Terry said he had been due to take retirement last December but was persuaded to stay on until Easter.