A PADIHAM headteacher has recruited 18 new members of staff to help bring the school out of special measures.

Shuttleworth College Headteacher Ruth England also added a new senior leadership team during the last academic year in a bid to boost the school’s Ofsted rating.

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In an interview to mark her first year in her job, Mrs England said that while she may have upset people, it was necessary to turn the school around.

The school was rated ‘inadequate’ by the education watchdog in 2014 but has since been praised in a follow-up section eight inspection.

She said: “I think I sat in on 30 interviews over the last year.

“I have met and appointed some fantastic people who I have been impressed with and it’s a privilege to work with them.

“I wanted to make sure we appointed people to feel proud of and who will make big strides at the school and I think we have got that now.

“I am sure I have upset a few people too but that’s what you have to do sometimes to turn things around. I have to make a decision and it has to be made immediately.

“We do need to improve our Ofsted grading, and we had a strong interim report, but my sights are set firstly on improving the school and, if I do that, the rest will come.I want quality teachers who will give the students the best education in the classroom, quality leadership so that the teachers will get the support they need in the classroom to deliver the best education, we want a challenging curriculum and if we do all that then the Ofsted recognition will come.”

The 42 year old is originally from Sheffield and had been a teacher for 15 years, starting out teaching Spanish and French then progressing to head of languages and then assistant headteacher and deputy headteacher.

She admits it has been a challenge, with the school in special measures, but one she has relished.

“As soon as I came into the school, I knew this was the right decision for me.

“I had no preconceptions, everyone from staff to pupils began with a clean slate .”