De Stafford loses turnaround head

The tough-talking head teacher who turned failing de Stafford school into a success has announced he is leaving.

Mark Phillips, 48, the uncompromising principal of the school in Burntwood Lane, Caterham, for the last 6 years, will leave the school at the end of term to move to a Wandsworth school which has been put into special measures.

But with a huge improvement in attendance and exam results at de Stafford since he brought his "vision" to the school, he told the Mirror he feels proud of what he and his colleagues and pupils had achieved during his time.

He said: "I had a vision when I came into the school. The people who did not share that vision, staff as well as students, just had to go.

"When I came to de Stafford attendance was at 86 per cent and there was persistent absenteeism. Attendance is now up to 95 per cent and exam results are much improved.

"I'm sad to be leaving, but the sense of pride that we have brought will continue."

Mr Phillips said he had just had his first meeting with senior staff at his new school, Elliot School in Wandsworth, South London, and was sure his tough reputation had preceded him. He said: "I don't want to frighten them too much, but I am sure they have done their homework on me."

News of Mr Phillips' departure came as the school announced it was over-subscribed for places, with 195 pupils offered places out of the 400 who wanted to attend.

Mr Phillips said: "If people live too far away, we have to turn them down. Our goal is to be a local community school, but we simply don't have any more room."

It was a similar story across the region as parents found out this week if their child's application to go to one of three preferred schools had been successful.

One Tandridge primary school head teacher, who did not want to be named, said: "It's a merry-go-round this year. There are too many pupils looking at too few spaces.

"We need more places, and that means more schools, not just more places. If not, we're heading for a disaster. It's the primary schools facing the worst problems now, but in a few years the secondary schools will be facing the brunt of it all."

The acute difficulties facing Surrey's students are recognised by cash-strapped Surrey County Council, which despite being forced to find savings of £180 million over the next four years has pledged to throw money at the problem.

But for parents whose children have yet to be offered a place at their chosen school, there is still some hope according to one head teacher. Georgina Steinthal, head of Marden Lodge Primary School in Croydon Road, Caterham, said: "I've been contacted by several parents who have not been offered a place at their preferred schools, but there is a lot of shuffling.

"It brings out strong feelings, and it's frustrating for the schools and the parents but the list we get at the start doesn't always bear any resemblance to the list we have at the start of the new school year."

Turn to page 6 for more on the schools places panic.