THE head of a secondary academy that was placed in special measures last year has left the school.

Bec Osborne is no longer head of Samuel Lister Academy in Cottingley, which was judged inadequate in every category after a visit by Ofsted inspectors last summer.

The trust that runs the school said the change was made “by mutual agreement”.

The Bradford College Education Trust has placed its director of school improvement, Dwayne Saxton, in the role of principal on a “short term” basis while a permanent head is found.

The change in leadership comes just a few weeks after an Ofsted monitoring inspection at the school found improvements needed to be made “as a matter of urgency”.

Ms Osborne became head of the academy, formerly known as Aire Valley School, in 2012.

When placing the school in special measures, inspectors said it was “failing to give its pupils an acceptable standard of education”.

Inspectors returned in November to see what improvements had been made, and in a subsequent letter to Ms Osborne said: “There is insufficient evidence of demonstrable impact towards the removal of special measures.

“As a matter of urgency, leaders must significantly increase their impact if they are to stand any chance of eradicating the major inadequacies and inconsistencies in provision and outcomes in the school within required timescales.

“Current levels of exclusions and detentions are extremely high.

“The status quo remains unacceptable and needs to improve as a matter of urgency.”

A spokesman for BCET said: “We can confirm that Bec Osborne has left Samuel Lister Academy by mutual agreement.

“The Trust would like to thank Ms Osborne for her hard work and commitment during her time with BCET.

“Dwayne Saxton, BCET Academies’ Director of School Improvement, will take up the role of Executive Principal at Samuel Lister Academy in the short term.

“Mr Saxton along with all of the staff at Samuel Lister Academy and supported by the sponsor and its partners are focussed on ensuring that the academy makes the required rapid improvement.”

Mr Saxton is a former head of Wyke Manor, and later became principal of its replacement, Appleton Academy. He also sits on the Bradford Schools Forum.

Samuel Lister is in the process of a major re-building project, funded by the Government’s Priority Schools Building Programme, that will see much of the school replaced with new buildings.

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