THE NEW Headteacher of The De Montfort School hopes his appointment will awaken the ‘sleeping giant’ and take it ‘beyond outstanding’.
Guy Nichols took over the reins at the newly-merged school from Caroline Browne, who had been head for seven years, at the start of the new term in September.
After moving from Kent to Worcestershire, the 52-year-old told The Observer he had been overwhelmed by the support he had received since he took over.
“I think it’s gone extremely well and I have enjoyed the privilege of being the headteacher here,” he said.
“The school is at a very exciting stage, coming together as one school and embracing the future.
“September 1 marked the birth – if you like – of the new school and we have been very excited by the fact we have this new identity and an opportunity to make a difference to the lives of children and families in Evesham.
“This school is like a sleeping giant, the children here are fantastic, the staff are fantastic but I just think we needed a rallying call and a raising of our expectations.”
Mr Nichols brings with him a wealth of experience having spent six years as headteacher at The Business Academy Bexley in Kent and a spell as deputy head at Rochester Grammar School before that.
“I have had two very, very diverse experiences as a senior leader,” he said. “But I feel I can bring that diversity of experience to the De Montfort School.
“I feel I have been very well prepared for the role, but having said that I am under no illusion, we have a very, very long way to
go but staff and students have embraced the changes I have brought.”
Some of those changes include same-day detentions, staff meeting the students at the door every morning and a ‘two-bell system’ to make students on time for lessons.
Mr Nichols said Ms Browne was one of the main reasons behind his decision to take the job and added he had high hopes for the Four Pools Road site.
“My aspiration here is to take this school beyond outstanding,” he said.
“This is a good school. we hit a bit of a turbulent time in terms of results from last year, but we pick ourselves up, dust ourselves down and put all the steps in place to get to outstanding.
“I can see it will take a little while, it won’t be in the next year but realistically within three years we can be really close to that outstanding, but I am aiming for exceptional.”
