New Headteacher appointed at Park House School in Newbury

Park House School in Newbury has announced the appointment of a new headteacher.

James King is currently deputy headteacher at Greenshaw Learning Trust school Holmleigh Park High School in Gloucester.

Park House was put into special measures after a poor Ofsted report in June 2022 – with the report finding that in five areas of inspection, the school required improvement in two and was deemed inadequate in three.

At the time, the school said a "rapid action plan" was put in place and it later announced that it would be joining the Greenshaw Learning Trust on September 1.

In a letter to parents, director of secondary education at Greenshaw Learning Trust Izzy Ambrose said: “Holmleigh Park has itself been through a rapid improvement journey and we are confident that Mr King has the expertise and skills to lead Park House through a similar process.”

Mr King said he was “absolutely delighted” and “very privileged” to be taking on the new leadership role.

He has already spent some time with the staff and said he “can’t wait to get started”.

Mr King will be the third person to take on the role since long-serving head Derek Peaple stepped down in March 2020 after 17 years with the school.

Mr Peaple's role was passed on to teacher and former pharmaceuticals employee Tom Goodenough who resigned just after a year in the post.

From September 2021 Damian Crabb stood as interim principal, with Lamorna Waddell as his interim deputy.

Greenshaw Learning Trust CEO Will Smith said in a letter confirming the change: “The Greenshaw Learning Trust has a track record of improving schools and has the necessary experience and capacity to start working with the teachers and students at Park House this term.”