Joy eager to make a head start at school

Photo: Picture: VINCENT BROWN

NEW North Chadderton School head teacher Joy Clarke.

THE school holidays are here but one Failsworth teacher is eager to get back to the books as the new head of North Chadderton School.

Joy Clarke joined Failsworth School in 1998 as assistant head teacher for the upper school before becoming director of sport in 2000 and deputy head teacher two years later.

After 13 years in Failsworth, she is set to leave at the end of term today and will take up her new role as North Chadderton head teacher on September 1.

Ms Clarke, a former PE teacher, said: “I feel absolutely privileged to have worked at Failsworth School for the past 13 years and to have seen it constantly improve, culminating in our Ofsted last June which said we were good with outstanding features.

“It’s been very much a team effort. I’ve been blessed to have worked with a very forward-looking senior leadership team and that has helped the school move forward.

“I’ll miss my colleagues and friends and I’ll definitely miss the children.

“We’ve got some fantastic students at Failsworth, they are salt of the earth pupils, very honest and very loyal to their school.

“There will always be a place in my heart for Failsworth.”

Ms Clarke said she has a clear vision to move her new school forward and get the best for every pupil.

She said: “Becoming head at North Chadderton is a fantastic opportunity and I’m really looking forward to it.

“I want to make it an exceptional school and I want to prepare students for a life of success.

“I want to set down the highest standards in respect, uniform, behaviour and achievement, working in close partnership with parents staff and students.”

John Meagher, Failsworth head teacher, paid tribute to his former deputy. who he said was instrumental in helping the school achieve specialist sports college status in 2000. He said: “As a head, you need a strong reliable deputy but also a good friend to give you challenging conversations and she has done that perfectly.

“I’ll miss her dearly when she leaves.

“North Chadderton is getting a wonderful head, she’s got a real focus on learning and getting young people to do well.

“She’s had lots of messages of support from pupils and ex-pupils.

“You don’t do 13 years without making an impact.”