A SENIOR teacher given the job of turning around a troubled Pendle high school and leading it out from special measures imposed by Government inspectors has taken over as its associate head.

Peter Dixon, previously head at Primet High, Colne, has taken control of Mansfield High, Brierfield, one of the largest schools in Lancashire, from Glynne Ward who has returned to her role as head of Ribblesdale High, Clitheroe.

One of Mr Dixon's first duties in charge will be to meet with two HMI inspectors on Monday who are visiting Mansfield as part of an on-going monitoring exercise to make sure staff and governors are sticking to an action plan drawn up to get the 1,200-pupil school out from special measures imposed last summer.

Mr Dixon, who is on secondment for at least two years, said he had set a target of March 2000 to get out from special measures. "By the beginning of next year we will have a clear picture of where we are going," he said. "Two HMI inspectors are coming in on Monday as part of the regular monitoring of the school which will probably happen every six months or so. They will be looking at how we have progressed in meeting our action plan."

The measures were ordered after an inspection criticised the school's management. Work is also being carried out on provision for special needs pupils and covering worship time within assemblies.

The inspectors concluded: "In view of underachievement by a significant proportion of pupils and weaknesses in leadership and management the school does not provide satisfactory value for money."

They recognised that the enforced absence of head Ernie Pickup, due to a continuing police investigation into allegations of financial mismanagement, and former deputy head Alan Duckworth who, at the time, was facing internal disciplinary proceedings on an unrelated matter, had affected the running of Mansfield. Mr Duckworth has since resigned.

David Fletcher, deputy head at Primet, takes over as acting head in Mr Dixon's absence.

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