New headteacher at academy

Ian Widdows took up the position at Easter, stepping up from the role of deputy headteacher. It follows the retirement – after 24 years of headship at the Church End school – of Chris Walls.

Speaking this week, Mr Widdows said: “When I started at the Giles Academy nine years ago I remember feeling excited. I could tell from that time that the Giles had something very special. On becoming the new headteacher at Easter this year I felt an incredibly deep sense of pride to be leading such a fantastic school with such hard-working, dedicated staff.”

He described the school is ‘extremely popular and successful’, adding: “Visitors comment on its calm, purposeful atmosphere and the confident, polite and hardworking students.”

He said the school believes in providing a variety of opportunities for young people to develop.

This, he explained, was not only in their learning but also in “a vast range of other activities, including cultural trips to London, participation in the visual and performing arts, sporting activities like fencing, rowing and swimming and outdoor education for all students which builds leadership skills and character”.

“We want to create fond memories of their time at the school which will stay with them for the rest of their lives,” he added.

He said a key element of to the school’s success came from the fact that it had “never stood still”, adding: “I very much look forward to continuing to lead the school into the future and further developing the many opportunities for our students to succeed.

The school was rated as ‘good’ with some ‘outstanding’ elements following its most recent inspection by Ofsted in May, 2013.