Head off to pastures new (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Head off to pastures new

MIKE Redman, headteacher of Kingshill School, Cirencester for the last 17 years, is leaving at the end of this term to take up a very different job in education.

His new title will be Workforce Reform Co-ordinator and he will be working for the Local Education Authority, based in Hucclecote, near Gloucester.

His job will be to work with schools in the county to help to reduce teachers' workload as part of the government's reform programme.

He will do this by finding ways to relieve them of the extra tasks, which at present take up 30 per cent of teachers' time, and allowing them to concentrate on teaching.

"It's an exciting prospect. I've already begun to realise the problems that some schools face. It's probably hardest for small to medium primary schools where there aren't enough staff and finding creative solutions for these schools will be a real challenge," he said.

"It's been a long stint at Kingshill, but an enjoyable one. I'm only the second headteacher since the school opened in 1976 and half my teaching career has been spent here. It's going to feel very strange indeed both to leave Kingshill and the general school environment.

"I'll miss my fantastic staff. It's been a joy working with the teachers and all the support staff. And I'll miss the kids. They all contribute to the very positive 'can-do' attitude at Kingshill. What I shan't miss so much is dealing with all the issues that come with the maintenance of the school - like blocked drains.

"The pressures in my new job will be very different. I'm looking forward to the extra freedom and to dealing with a variety of schools. I hope that my 33 years experience in teaching will help in this."

Mr Redman's successor has already been appointed. She is Miss Christine Oates, a former head of maths who is currently first deputy at The Downs School, near Newbury which, like Kingshill, is also a Beacon School, noted for its good results.