News and events

Principals announced for new academies

Published 9 July 2010

The principal designates for two new multi-million pound academy schools planned for Hastings have been named.

Jenny Jones, head at Filsham Valley, has been appointed for The St Leonards Academy, and Theresa Phillips, head of Hillcrest School in Hastings has been selected for The Hastings Academy.

Professor Julian Crampton, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Brighton, the lead sponsor for the academies project, said both had worked tirelessly as part of the Federation of Hastings Schools, led by executive head Sir Dexter Hutt, to bring significant improvements to their schools.

He said: "Their appointments are testament to their hard work, determination and excellent leadership skills."

Theresa Phillips and Jenny Jones

Left to right: Theresa Phillips and Jenny Jones

The principal designates will formally take up the roles in January 2011.

Professor Crampton said: "We will work closely with the governing bodies of the schools, Sir Dexter and with Jenny and Theresa to ensure a smooth transition over the coming months."

The government signed a funding agreement for the Hastings academies in March and while there remains some uncertainty over government finances, the Hastings project remains on course.

Professor Crampton said: "We are proceeding with the plans and the appointments are testament to our confidence that the academies will go ahead."

Theresa Phillips joined Hillcrest as headteacher in September 2008. Ofsted placed the school into special measures the week after she arrived but under Theresa's leadership and in partnership with The Hastings Federation, the school was rapidly turned around.

In 2009 Hillcrest was the second most improved school in the country at the proportion of pupils achieving five A*-C GCSEs and it came out of special measures last autumn after just one year.

Before joining Hillcrest School, Theresa spent two years as an associate headteacher at a challenging secondary school in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets. Prior to that, she worked in a range of schools across East Sussex as an adviser. During this period Theresa was a deputy head at Hillcrest.

She said: "I am thrilled to be offered the post of principal designate of The Hastings Academy.

"During the past year I have worked closely with the lead sponsor, the University of Brighton and the co-sponsors BT and East Sussex County Council to develop the vision for the academies in Hastings.

"We will build on the progress that has taken place at Hillcrest School to provide a first class education for our students and their families.

"I should like to thank my colleagues and members of local schools and community organisations for their support and look forward to working together to transform the future for the young people of Hastings."

Jenny Jones, was appointed head at Filsham Valley School this year after spending the previous five years as head at The Grove School in Hastings.
She said: "I am delighted to have been given the opportunity to take forward the transformation of educational standards for young people in Hastings and St Leonards. My knowledge of The Grove, gathered over five years as headteacher, and my recent knowledge of Filsham Valley will enable me to ensure a smooth transition bringing the two school communities together.

"I believe we have the potential for an outstanding academy by utilising the skills and expertise of the current staff in providing the very highest quality of education for our learners, and I look forward to the challenges ahead with optimism and excitement."

The government's approval of the Hastings scheme was the green light for more than £40m worth of investment in the two new 21st century schools.

The new academies will replace Hillcrest, Filsham Valley and The Grove secondary schools and more than 60 per cent of the town's secondary school age students will attend the two new academies. The sponsor organisations maintain that the academies will not only improve educational opportunities for young people in the town but also play a role in the wider regeneration of the area.

On the eastern side of the town The Hastings new academy will be on the site of Hillcrest School and will accommodate 900 pupils aged 11-16 and deliver the core subjects of the national curriculum. The new academy will open in 2011 and building work on the new buildings has a target completion date of 2012.

The St Leonards new academy, on the western side of town, will provide for 1,500 pupils aged 11-16 and will replace The Grove and Filsham Valley Schools. Again, the new academy will open in 2011 with a targeted completion date for the building work of 2013.

You can find out more about the academies at www.hastingsacademies.org.