Education bosses have appointed an interim headteacher to help transform a Leeds school that was plunged into special measures.
Government inspectors slammed teaching and leadership at John Smeaton Community College as ‘inadequate’ after a damning Oftsed report revealed a catalogue of failures.
Former headteacher John Daulby, who had been away through illness since the inspection in May, retired before the start of the autumn term after a decade at the school.
David Yates, who has transformed schools in Rochdale and Oldham, has been appointed to lead the school during its transition into academy status.
Officials from the education watchdog Ofsted said that the east Leeds school was failing to give pupils an ‘acceptable standard of education’ in the scathing report.
The YEP understands that inspectors were subjected to bad behaviour during their visit to the school.
Paul Brennan, deputy director for learning at Leeds City Council, said: “Following the Ofsted inspection early this year, we have been working closely with the leadership at John Smeaton Community College to help bring the school out of special measures and back to its usual high standard.
“An interim head teacher has now been appointed to lead the school in its transition to academy status.
“David Yates has an established track record as a highly effective head teacher and I’m confident with our support he will continue to bring about the improvements and changes needed to bring the school out of special measures.
“We have very good reputation for helping to turn schools around and are able to give comprehensive additional support – from the governing body to the classroom – to tackle any specific areas which need extra help.”
Mr Yates is set to become the college’s executive principal from January next year and is working in the school for an agreed number of days this term.
The school is set to become an academy with national group United Learning over the course of the next two terms.
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