Outgoing head teacher Andrew Fleet with his replacement Julie Tridgell
THE new school year will see changes at the very top for Nova Hreod with a new headteacher handpicked by the school community.
Soon-to-be headteacher Julie Tridgell, pictured, was appointed by the school governors on April 2 and is due to take over in September.
She said: "I do feel very privileged to be appointed to this post.
"I want to express to the whole community that I want to work collectively with teachers, pupils, parents and governors."
Currently headteacher of Carterton Community College, in Oxfordshire, Mrs Tridgell was chosen after a rigorous interview process involving pupils on the school council and governors.
Mrs Tridgell said she was very impressed with the school building and facilities and that this was a very different environment to her previous rural location, where there was only one school in the area.
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"I'm committed to building on the excellent work that is being done here and moving on to the next phase of the college's development," she said.
"It's time to sit back, look and reflect and plan for the next part of the college's future."
Mrs Tridgell was not prepared to go into details of what she plans to implement at the school yet, but said her ethos is about creating individuals.
"It's ensuring that when the youngsters leave Nova Hreod they are well equipped for 21st Century living."
The Moredon school's academic results have suffered in recent times - being ranked the second worst school for improvement in the country.
Last year's GCSE pupils came bottom of the Swindon LEA league table with just 29 per cent of 240 pupils gaining five A* to C grades.
Though Mrs Tridgell accepted raising standards is a concern for any headteacher, she believes that to get good academic results you must look to improve pupils' self esteem and celebrating pupil's achievements. Raising standards is not all that makes a good school - well rounded young people is what we want," she said.
"It's about finding things for young people to achieve and excel at - there is a lot of work that's gone on in this school which means it's very exciting for me professionally."
Nova Hreod's current headteacher Andrew Fleet, who leaves the school in August after 11 years, said: "I have got great confidence that she's going to build on the work that I have been doing with staff and governors over the years, but also take the college forward."
Mr Fleet said the school's new facilities meant it could attract the best teachers to keep improving the school.
Both Mrs Tridgell and her predecessor Mr Fleet have theology degrees and school governor chairman, Carol Gibbon, said it revealed something about what the school was looking for.
"It's a tough job and we cannot pretend that there are not challenges ahead for Nova Hreod," she said.
"That's why we tested all the candidates for the aspects we wanted so that we would get the right person and we are confident we have.
"It's a really exciting time for the students and staff."
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