Principal stands down ahead of school closure
THE executive head of the Lafford High School has stood down following comments made by parents at a very emotive meeting about the school's imminent closure.
Paul Watson is no longer principal of the school in Billinghay and Nicola Irvine has been appointed acting head. She was previously the vice-principal.
Lincolnshire County Council is proposing to start a phased closure of the school by 2010 because of falling pupil numbers.
Only 19 year six pupils expressed the Lafford as their first choice school for this September. The school currently has 262 pupils on its roll but can take up to 400.
As reported in last week's Standard, parents who attended a public meeting on March 6 expressed how they had lost faith in Mr Watson after the Lafford was federated with St George's College of Technology in Sleaford in 2005.
They claimed Mr Watson failed to fulfil promises made when he took on headship of the school and lacked passion for the school.
Mr Watson told the Standard he is respecting the wishes made by parents at the meeting.
He said: "I was offering an organised wind down of the school to close it by 2010 which would have been the best thing for the children but the parents wish to fight the closure and I do not.
"I have respected their wishes and stood down so they can fight the closure with the management how they want to do it. I do not want to stand in their way."
Mr Watson continues as principal of St George's College, the Aveland High School, Billingborough and Coteland's School, Ruskington.
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Thursday 24 May 2012
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