New head vows to make school the best
A new headteacher at a Lincoln school is determined to make it one of the best in the country.
Ed Fitzpatrick is now at the helm of Cherry Willingham Community School near Lincoln.
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Ed Fitzpatrick is the new headteacher at Cherry Willingham Community School
And his vision is to make it the best small secondary school in England.
"It's ambitious but I want us to be ambitious," he said.
"We are a family-orientated school and we are a small school, so the personal touch is key – that is part of the reason I applied for the job.
"When I walked through the doors I thought it was a friendly place and there is massive potential for the school and the community to be transformed."
And part of that metamorphosis will come in the shape of a sixth form and new school uniform.
"I want the school to be even more proud of what it has already achieved," said Mr Fitzpatrick.
"And I am absolutely committed to working more closely with our primary schools."
Mr Fitzpatrick's commitment to exploring the community and engaging with other schools will be in part facilitated by a brand new 3G synthetic football pitch – the only one in Lincoln.
The £1m pitch will have changing and coaching facilities and can be booked out by anyone via the school's website.
Mr Fitzpatrick's previous incarnation was working for the Specialist Schools and Academies Trust.
Before his two-year stint with the trust Mr Fitzpatrick was a deputy head in Lancashire.
He only went into teaching in 1994 after years working at Liverpool University as a researcher – latterly with the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine.
13 Comments
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by parent, lincoln
Wednesday, September 23 2009, 8:33AM
“(sorry was meant to read )wouldnt let my dog in there even after those measures !!!”
by parent, lincoln
Wednesday, September 23 2009, 8:30AM
“Alison from wragby ,the word around cherry primary last term was if you send your child to cherry community school you dont care about them ! I kept my child at home for 6 months and faced prosecution as a result rather than send my child back to that school. From what i can gather kids who dont have special needs of any type or who are nt sensitive to surroundings or bullies may just do ok at cherry .I think with the new head and a good clear out of bad uncaring staff members and the 4 years needed for any of the kids who were there under the previous heads leadership who ve been able to develop and get away with unsavioury habits etc then it may turn itself around but without those measures i wouldnt put my dog in there !!! In fact after my childs treatment there i wouldnt even let my dog in there !”
by Alison, Wragby
Tuesday, September 22 2009, 5:13PM
“As awful as this school sounds it still sounds better than my 1 hour tour of Banovallum! Definatly not sending my son there.”
by Alison, Wragby
Tuesday, September 22 2009, 4:47PM
“Wow so most people wouldn't really recommend Cherry! We are going through the process of looking around schools for September and have had only one awfully shocking school tour so far (Banovallum) but Cherry is coming up. I doubt it could be as bad as Banovallum.”
by Edward, Cherry Willingham
Monday, September 21 2009, 8:16AM
“I am really interested to hear from parent¿s that have had a negative experience at the school whether it was in the past or now. I would urge you to contact me at the school so you can share with me how to improve the learning experience of students.
I did not claim the school was going to be the best small school in the UK overnight.
We will to work very hard to realise our ambition but other schools in far more challenging circumstances manage to do this. So I don't believe that aiming to be the best small in the UK is deluded just ambitious.
Cherry is a 'good' school as the last three OfSTED inspections have confirmed. One final comment the proposed school motto is 'Be Your Best' it is not the Everton FC motto inspite of undying affection for that particular football club.”