New head confident her Hastings academies will improve

Jane Fletcher with students at ARK William Parker Academy

A new regional director is confident she can help improve two academies in Hastings after criticism by Ofsted following her appointment to oversee them.

Inspectors have acknowledged William Parker Academy and Helenswood Academy, in Hastings, have been making progress – and now Jane Fletcher has shared her intention to take them to the top.

Only a couple of weeks into her new appointment, Jane said: “We’re working really, really hard to make these schools outstanding as rapidly as we can.

“That’s our focus – we don’t want anything less than that.”

ARK William Parker Academy.
Jane Fletcher SUS-160920-151827001 — ARK William Parker Academy. Jane Fletcher SUS-160920-151827001

As well as being named regional director, Jane will serve as executive head at William Parker, until a permanent appointment is made.

She said: “We have started the recruitment process and have spoken to several strong candidates. We need to make sure we get the right person.

“We hope to have some one in place in January.”

Jane joined the Ark family from the Harris Girls’ Academy, in East Dulwich.

She served as headteacher and executive headteacher during her eight years at the school – taking it from ‘requires improvement’ to ‘outstanding’ in that time.

She is also a serving Ofsted inspector – one of the team that rated Helenswood ‘requires improvement’ following a two-day inspection in July 2015.