Balderstone headteacher resigns

Date published: 24/12/2007

Derek Wiggett, headteacher of Balderstone Technology College, has offered his resignation following the school's slide into special measures after a critical Ofsted inspection.

It is believed Mr Wiggett will be replaced by a specialist 'trouble-shooter' whose remit will be to raise standards and get Balderstone out of special measures as soon as possible.

Ironically, Mr Wiggett, who has been on sick leave since the report was published, was the temporary headteacher who put Wardle back on track after it was placed in special measures in March 2005.

Councillor Irene Davidson, the council's portfolio holder for education, who said at the time of the report she did not know what had gone wrong, is also to stand down as a governor.

Earlier this year Springhill High School was chosen over Balderstone as the site for a new merged school to open in 2013.

It was believed things were on the up at Balderstone, which had regained its specialist college status after it was withdrawn in May 2006.

The status was removed because education chiefs felt targets did not pose enough of a challenge to pupils and exam results weren’t up to scratch.