Bury St Edmunds school appoints new headteacher with track record of Ofsted success

paul.derrick@iliffepublishing.co.uk

Published: 06:00, 02 October 2020

A Bury St Edmunds school has appointed a new leader after its last headteacher decided to step down due to illness.

Ben Jeffery will start as headteacher at Westley Middle School, in Oliver Road, on Monday.

He succeeds Ian Kearns who became Westley's headteacher last year and decided to step away after suffering the side effects of a virus for the last few months.

Ben Jeffery is the new headteacher at Westley Middle School in Bury St Edmunds. Picture submitted

Mr Jeffery has moved from Glemsford Primary Academy having overseen a ‘Good’ Ofsted rating in all areas.

He was previously a deputy headteacher at Great Heath Academy, in Mildenhall , and a teacher and senior leader at Hardwick Middle School, in Bury.

He said: “I am delighted to have been appointed as the new headteacher of Westley Middle School.

"The school has a strong reputation across the town, particularly the strength of its curriculum and extra-curricular activities.

"I believe the middle school allows children to receive specialist teaching from the age of nine and grow up in an environment where 12 and 13-year-olds can take major responsibilities in the school.

"I know Westley works closely with other schools, particularly Tollgate, Horringer Court and County Upper, to provide an all-through education. I have met with the staff and look forward to meeting the children and parents.”

Ellie White, chairman of governors at the school, said: "We welcome Mr Jeffery and know we have landed on our feet to have a head with such a good reputation come and join us.

Westley Middle School in Bury St Edmunds. Picture by Mecha Morton

"After the difficult summer when the school was closed for most children, it has been good to see them back and learning again.

"We look forward to even further progress under the headship of Mr Jeffery."

Tim Coulson, chief executive of Unity Schools Partnership, of which Westley and Glemsford are both members, said: "We are proud to be working with Westley Middle School and its associated group of schools.

"They joined us in the summer and we are already seeing their strengths which can be shared with other schools across the trust.

"Westley Middle School continues to recruit strongly and we look forward to the school going from strength to strength."

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Bury St Edmunds Education Mildenhall Paul Derrick