Head teacher leaves failing school

Helen Morgan, head teacher at Hipperholme and Lightcliffe High School

Helen Morgan became head teacher of the Stoney Lane School in 2014 after the executive head Anthony Smith stood down.

In a letter sent out to pupils Miss Morgan said: “Now that the sponsorship of HLHS is secure, I am able to share with you my decision to leave HLHS with effect from February 28 2015.

“I would like to extend my thanks to the Governors, Carol Kitson and colleagues for their support and commitment to securing the best personal and academic outcomes for students at HLHS.

“Up to this point, my only goal has been to lead HLHS into a position where we secured the right sponsorship in order to take the school forward.

“Now that we have achieved that, I am confident that as part of the Abbey Multi-Academy Trust, the school is in a strong position to continue on its improvement journey.

“This is an exciting time for the school and I encourage the whole community to support and embrace the changes ahead.

“It has been an absolute pleasure and privilege to work with colleagues, students and their families across the last 11 years and I have enjoyed every minute.

“The calibre of the young people at HLHS combined with a dedicated team of staff will undoubtedly see the school go from strength to strength.

“I wish the school every success now and in the future.’

In the school’s latest Ofsted monitoring report in January, inspectors said the high school is making progress but not enough to be taken out of special measures.

The school has been working with the Abbey Multi Academy Trust and Carol Kitson, chief executive officer at Abbey Multi Academy Trust, was appointed to take on the role of interim executive head teacher at HLHS to provide support in January.

From March 1 2015, the school will be known as Lightcliffe Academy.

Dr Robert Forrester, chair of the school governors said in the statement: “I am sure, as Helen has stated, that the school will continue to thrive as it joins Abbey Multi Academy Trust from March 1st.

“Governors and staff at the school would like to thank Helen for all her hard work and commitment over the last 11 years and wish her well in the future.”