Kirk Hallam Community Academy announces appointment of a new Head Teacher

Mr Watts is joining the school from the Nottingham University Samworth Academy (NUSA) (Whole School - 25/07/2018)

Kirk Hallam Community Academy is delighted to announce the appointment of Mark Watts as the new Head Teacher of the school from September 2018.

Mr Watts is joining the school from the Nottingham University Samworth Academy (NUSA) where he has been Head Teacher since 2013. During his time at NUSA, Mr Watts and his team have moved the school from ‘Special Measures’ (Ofsted 2013) to ‘Good’ (Ofsted 2017) and it is that leadership experience that Mr Watts is bringing to Kirk Hallam.

Having spent time in the Academy in the last few weeks Mr Watts said he had been struck by the incredible sense of community and potential at Kirk Hallam.

"I have sensed a real desire amongst students and staff to move the school forward and to embrace changes that will result in better educational outcomes for all our learners and offer them the very best start in life. With the support of the Governing Body and the school community, I will be using my experience of moving a school to Ofsted ‘Good’ to begin making significant changes at Kirk Hallam from September 2018.”

In another change, from September 2018 Kirk Hallam Community Academy will be joining the Nova Education Trust following a formal consultation conducted by the Governing Body earlier this year.

Melanie Lawson, Chair of Governors explained that

“after meeting with a number of Education Trusts in the last 12 months, the governors felt that the Nova Trust most closely represented Kirk Hallam’s aspirations and ambitions and had a proven track record of secondary school improvement. By choosing to join Nova, Kirk Hallam is already accessing full support from the Trust as we work to make significant changes to Kirk Hallam Community Academy from September. “

With the support of the Nova Education Trust, Mr Watts will initially focus on introducing a climate for learning that allows students to engage fully with the curriculum without the barriers of poor behaviour or poor teaching that can often impact on student success.

Cautioning that this will not happen overnight, Mr Watts said

“this process will take time and requires some hard decisions to be made but I can assure parents and students that we will not be deflected from our clear aim of delivering a school that the community deserves and can be proud of.”

This approach will also see a renewed focus on behaviour, student attainment, quality teaching and re-engagement with the local community.

In addition, the School Council and Governors have worked together to design and introduce a new school uniform and school badge for September. To help support families with this change, this year Kirk Hallam will be providing a free tie and blazer for every student in the school in preparation for September 2018.

Mr Watts concluded that

“Kirk Hallam is a school with a proud history and its students have incredible potential. Over the next few years we will work tirelessly to realise that potential and deliver a school that the community deserves and can be proud of. I look forward to meeting Students and Parents over the next year as we begin to transform Kirk Hallam Community Academy.”