School's joint head has stepped down

Daniel Whiteway • Published 7 Jul 2012 14:00 1 Comment

A JOINT headteacher at a prestigious private school has stepped down from his role just weeks after taking up the post.

Paul Thompson was appointed joint headmaster at Brigidine School, Windsor, at the beginning of June, when the school was restructured following financial troubles.

However, in a letter sent to the parents of the 170 pupils at the Kings Road school, Mr Thompson cited terms and conditions being imposed on him by the school's board of governors as the reason to decline taking up the post permanently.

He wrote in the letter, sent on Friday last week: "Because of the terms and conditions being imposed on me and because of unresolved issues at governor level, I have regretfully decided to decline the offer of head at Brigidine at this stage. Thank you to those who have supported me."

Mr Thompson will remain at the school as head of Key Stage 4.

The school will now revert to a one headmaster system with Michael Hockley, the former joint headmaster with Mr Thompson, taking up the post of headmaster at the school.

Mr Hockley said: "Things are going on as normal at the school. There was a headteacher, there is a headteacher and there will continue to be a headteacher for the future."

As well as the joint headmaster role, the school's restructuring programme last month included a shake up of the board of governors and staff reductions in the non-teaching sector.

Michael Fleming, chairman of governors at Brigidine, refused to comment.

In an email to the parents, Mr Hockley wrote: "Paul is an extraordinarily gifted teacher and manager, who has decided that headship is not for him. Paul has always been, and will continue to be, fully supportive of the school."

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  sb1234
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  Jul 19, 10:27
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  FANTASTIC!! I'm delighted that Mr Thompson will continue to devote his time to teaching at Brigidine - he's an amazing teacher who achieves outstanding results. I do however wonder if this is really news and why every minute change at this great school is headline material!!
  
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