Four Norwich headteachers quit as schools return for the new academic year

John Catton, left, chairman of the interim executive board at Sewell Park College, with Jeremy Rowe, who has been seconded from Sir John Leman High in Beccles to lead the college during autum term, 2014. (Image: Archant)

Gavin Bellamy, of Sewell Park College, left at short-notice after GCSE results day on August 21, when it performed badly.

The new interim head yesterday wrote to parents outlining a strict policy on uniform, and pledged to make rapid improvements.

Meanwhile, Mark Evans, the founding principal of the flagship Sir Isaac Newton Sixth Form free school, has left just a year after it opened.

And the county council revealed the heads of two Norwich primary schools in special measures also quit over the summer holiday.

Mark Evans, who has left his position as principal at the new Sir Isaac Newton Sixth Form in Norwich. Photo: Bill Smith (Image: Archant)

Annette McMylor left her post as headteacher of Wensum Junior School at the end of August, as did Jan-Robert Tanner, of Lingwood Primary, who decided to retire.

Mr Bellamy had been principal of Sewell Park College since March 2011, but stood aside after 34pc of pupils gained the government's gold standard of at least five GCSEs at A*-C, including English and maths - a one percentage point rise on 2013.

The county council took control of the college's finances following last year's poor results, and at the end of last term it replaced the college's governors with an interim executive board (IEB), headed by former North Walsham High School headteacher John Catton.

The IEB has appointed Jeremy Rowe, headteacher of Sir John Leman High School in Beccles, to lead the college this term.

He said the local community should notice the change in the school immediately, thanks a tough stance on school uniform, a letter sent home to parents yesterday, and his message to pupils in assembly.

He said: 'The focus is on improving results, teaching and learning, and behaviour. I also want to remind the wider community how good this school is, and how important it is. The over-arching aim for me this term is that this school is in the top five improving schools in the county this year.'

Peter Harwood, vice chairman of the old board of governors, said staff had not been happy, and threatened industrial action last year.

He said: 'We were well aware, but we were frustrated by our inability to do anything about it, which is why we were happy for the local authority to come along.'

All Norfolk schools which have been governed by IEBs in recent history have either become, or are becoming, academies, apart from Lingwood Primary, whose future has not been decided.

Mr Catton said the IEB had yet to discuss academy conversion, and it was not a foregone conclusion.

He added: 'For me, it's completely unacceptable the young people in the community are doing less well than young people in other communities in the city and county. There's no reason for that. That's what we are going to put right. We are going to do it quickly.

'We need clearly defined responsibilities so we know who is doing what. We need staff to all sing from the same hymn sheet, not writing their own words and music.'

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