Rishton headteacher vowing to make school outstanding

10:00am Tuesday 14th February 2012 in Rishton

A NEW headteacher has vowed to turn his ‘good’ school into an ‘outstanding’ one.

Former police officer Tim Mitchell, 51, who has taken up the headship at Norden High School, Rishton, is currently looking at innovative ways in consultation with staff, governors and parents to boost the school’s performance.

He said that gifted pupils could sit GCSEs early whether they are in year seven eight or 10.

And Mr Mitchell said if a child was advanced enough to progress on to A-levels in one or a number of subjects he would teach those subjects in school Tim, who retrained as a teacher after four years on the police force in Portsmouth, said that he intends to know each pupil by name and refuses to hide behind his desk.

The maths teacher plans to be in the classroom on a regular basis and ensure he knows each of his 600 plus students by name.

Mr Mitchell, who left his post at a Nottingham high school for the position, said: “We want this to be the school of choice for the local community.

“We want to each pupil to have their own curriculum.

“I will return to teaching in the classroom, and I will be in the classroom supporting teachers and children. If children see you taking an interest in their achievement it will help raise standards.

“I recognise that people develop at different times in different subject areas.

“I know we are a 11 to 16 school but that doesn’t mean we can’t teacher some children to A-level standard. ”

Mr Mitchell said: “It’s unbelievable. It is a really fantastic school, the children, staff and local community have been so welcoming.

“I can’t stop smiling.

“I have always enjoyed teaching and working with young people trying to overcome the difficulties and maths of one of those subjects that people have very strong views about.

“There is a significant increase in young people going to study in universities closer to home and we have to ensure as a school we are meeting the needs of the children and the local community.

“I don’t see this school expanding and becoming a large school.

“These children are the future and we have to look at the needs of the community when we educate them.”

Comments (4)

12:55pm Tue 14 Feb 12

ricksh says...

As an ex pupil of Norden High School anything that helps pupils to progress and achieve their potential is a good idea. I wish Mr Mitchel all the luck in doing this.
As an ex pupil of Norden High School anything that helps pupils to progress and achieve their potential is a good idea. I wish Mr Mitchel all the luck in doing this. ricksh

1:23pm Tue 14 Feb 12

Graham Hartley says...

Mr Mitchell appears to have the right qualities - a determination to show that 0!≠ 0, among many other surprising results in mathematics; also his unabashed connection with the police force.

His insistence on 'meeting the needs of the children and the local community' isn't well-analysed in the report. If the varied dispositions, aspirations - the elements of their 'needs' can be met by the local community then that will be a fortunate state. Large numbers of pupils whose greatest hope is to work in a shop or warehouse can set off happily each working day. Yet the view of a working community assembled to match the requirements of service industry is myopic. That's why we show pupils that 0! = 1.
Mr Mitchell appears to have the right qualities - a determination to show that 0!≠ 0, among many other surprising results in mathematics; also his unabashed connection with the police force. His insistence on 'meeting the needs of the children and the local community' isn't well-analysed in the report. If the varied dispositions, aspirations - the elements of their 'needs' can be met by the local community then that will be a fortunate state. Large numbers of pupils whose greatest hope is to work in a shop or warehouse can set off happily each working day. Yet the view of a working community assembled to match the requirements of service industry is myopic. That's why we show pupils that 0! = 1. Graham Hartley

10:08am Wed 15 Feb 12

ossylad says...

You have to ask why he has left his previous school after all the publicity relating to it becoming an academy,is this the plan for norden?
You have to ask why he has left his previous school after all the publicity relating to it becoming an academy,is this the plan for norden? ossylad

8:56pm Wed 15 Feb 12

Graham Hartley says...

'What's in a name? that which we call a rose
By any other name would smell as sweet;...'

Thanks, Shakespeare for these ubiquitous lines which we may fasten as firmly upon Norden High School as upon Norden Academy. Yet anagrams of 'Norden Academy' include 'Yonder Mad Acne' and 'Renamed And Coy'. For 'Norden High School' I have 'No High-School Nerd' and rather worse...
'What's in a name? that which we call a rose By any other name would smell as sweet;...' Thanks, Shakespeare for these ubiquitous lines which we may fasten as firmly upon Norden High School as upon Norden Academy. Yet anagrams of 'Norden Academy' include 'Yonder Mad Acne' and 'Renamed And Coy'. For 'Norden High School' I have 'No High-School Nerd' and rather worse... Graham Hartley

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