Dear Parents,

 

Following conversations with the school’s senior leadership the governors have made a decision regarding the leadership of the school. From September 2023, for an interim period of no longer than two years, Mrs Savory and Mrs Knighton will work as co-heads of the school. Mrs Savory will work part-time during this period.

 

Mrs Savory has expressed in writing her wish to leave her full-time post; she has also offered to continue in a part-time role, an offer which the governors have accepted. The governors have made their decision to ensure stability and continuity at the Rosary School.

 

Because this is an interim arrangement, there is no need for the school to advertise a vacancy. However, governors are very keen to build on the expertise and ambitions of its staff and are offering formal interviews between all members of the teaching staff and members of the ‘headteacher’s recruitment panel’ (which comprises three governors) so that the governors can know and understand not only the skills of the teaching staff at the school but also their ambitions and aspirations. Governors will consider the outcome of these discussions in any permanent decisions made about future leadership in the school, when that time comes. I should add that because Mrs Knighton is absent on maternity leave at the moment, Mr Bradley, who is an experienced school leader, will be supporting Mrs Savory as a Deputy Head for the summer term.

 

The governors will also, very shortly, be making a decision about the school’s joining the diocesan Multi-academy Trust (MAT). It is clear that the bishop wants us to join and that governors are obliged to follow his lead unless there is a very good reason not to do so. A number of our anxieties appear to have been addressed recently and in positive ways. The bishop is adamant that any move to our being in the MAT will not, of itself, lead to any redundancies. We have been assured that the new ‘chief executive officer’ will not simply be a ‘super head’ on a high salary with vague responsibilities. Some of the responsibilities which the CEO will discharge will certainly help us at the Rosary. We have been assured that our financial reserves  will not be taken from us upon our joining, and the diocesan team has agreed that the MAT should be able to provide specialist intervention, such as therapists and educational psychologists, more efficiently (though this will not happen at once). The move to a MAT will not now happen, I understand, before 2024.

 

Therefore, the governors do not think that at this time of change it is wise to advertise for a new, permanent headteacher. This will be kept under review and once a final decision concerning the MAT has been made, and the role of the headteacher in any new structure clarified, we will move forward with recruitment.

 

Governors have been briefed in confidence by the inspector on the contents of the report following the recent inspection and we will be able to share our thoughts about this when the report is officially published; we are not allowed to do so beforehand.

 

Thank you for your support of Rosary School. The governors will be working with the school’s senior leadership, so that parents’ views are accommodated as the school moves forward.

 

Yours,

 

Philip Rush

 

Mr Philip Rush

Chair of Governors