New head to build on school’s progress

The new head of the Magnus Church of England School, Newark, Mrs Gil Barker, says she is looking forward to continuing the school’s improvement.

Mrs Barker, who has been at the school seven years, was praised for the quality and strength of her leadership in Ofsted’s latest inspection of the school.

While Ofsted found the school was still in need of improvement, some teaching was described as outstanding.

The chairman of governors, Mr Michael Arlington, said Mrs Barker’s strong leadership, popularity in school and her role in turning around the fortunes of Magnus since it left special measures in 2010 saw her appointed on a permanent basis from a field of strong candidates.

Mr Arlington described in the Advertiser last week how he believed secondary education in Newark had received a raw deal from Nottinghamshire County Council in the past in terms of a lack of financial investment over many years, and a lack of direction.

The Magnus will have greater freedom to determine its own future when it leaves the control of the Local Education Authority and becomes an academy in September.

It will be sponsored by the Diocese of Southwell and Nottingham.

In the meantime the county council is providing £2.5m to renovate the school.

Mrs Barker said: “I’m delighted to be confirmed as headteacher at Magnus on a permanent basis and look forward to continuing the progress we have made as a school.

“The support we have received from the county council in recent years has been exemplary following a difficult past.

“In particular, the funding secured on our behalf for renovations has been invaluable in improving our school environment.”

Mr Philip Owen, chairman of the county’s children and young people’s committee, said: “I am pleased Mrs Barker has acknowledged the exemplary support her school has received under this Conservative administration, including the funding we helped to secure for renovations.

“Newark schools were neglected by the previous Labour administration for many years, hence the drift of pupils into Lincolnshire, but since taking control we have invested a lot of officer-time in working with the Magnus and other schools to improve standards.

“GCSE results in Nottinghamshire have improved dramatically.

“We are determined to maintain this improvement in pupil performance and we support schools moving to academy status where this is appropriate.

“This year alone we have spent some £6m upgrading school facilities in Newark and the surrounding area, including £2m for the Newark Academy, improvements at William Gladstone primary and the new Fernwood annexe at Chuter Ede primary, which will open shortly.”