New headteacher for Burlington Danes School

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A new headteacher, Malcolm (‘Spokey’) Wheeler, has been appointed at Burlington Danes School to build on improvements already taking place. Mr Wheeler’s leadership at his current school, the Wavell School in Hampshire, was described as ‘clear and energetic’ by Ofsted inspectors, who also praised improvements in teaching and learning at the school, which has seen a six-year trend of improvements in its GCSE results. Mr Wheeler has also gained extensive experience of London secondary schools as a leadership consultant for the government’s London Challenge scheme to raise educational standards in the capital.

The previous head of Burlington Danes school retired after Ofsted said it was failing its pupils. The salary of £110,000 offered to candidates is believed to be the highest salary yet quoted for the head of a mainstream state school.

Mr Wheeler's appointment as headteacher at Burlington Danes School comes as the school is beginning to make progress in tackling issues identified in its last Ofsted report, which said the school required ‘special measures’.

Mr Wheeler will begin working with the school this term before taking up his post as full-time permanent head after Easter. Meanwhile, acting headteacher Keith Miller will continue to lead the school and then stay on to work with the new head.

“Burlington Danes School has enormous potential for improvement,” said Mr Wheeler. “The evidence is that this is a school which can become very effective – that is what attracted me to the job. There’s a real determination on the part of the staff, governors and the diocese to improve teaching and learning. Hammersmith & Fulham is a very supportive local education authority which will pull out all the stops to help turn the school around and I am looking forward to working with the school staff, governors, pupils, diocese and the LEA to get the school out of special measures as quickly as possible.”

John King, chair of governors at Burlington Danes School, said: “Malcolm Wheeler is an excellent candidate who was appointed after a very thorough selection process involving a field of more than 30 candidates, narrowed down to a strong shortlist of five. He has greatly improved standards at his school and has detailed knowledge of London secondary schools through his work with London Challenge. Meanwhile, the acting head, staff, governors and the diocese are working very hard to improve teaching, learning and pupils’ behaviour at the school. Some progress has already been made and the main reason Mr Wheeler was keen to take up the position is that he feels that he can build on this to transform the school.”

Cllr David Williams, deputy for education, said: “Malcolm Wheeler comes to us from a school which has seen a six-year trend of improvements in its GCSE results and he brings with him a wealth of knowledge from his work with London secondary schools. With an outstanding permanent headteacher and the support of staff, governors, parents, pupils, the LEA and the diocese, we look forward to seeing improvements at Burlington Danes School in 2005.”

 

January 23, 2005