Temporary head takes over at village school

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A TEMPORARY replacement has been appointed to lead a village school after the sudden resignation of its head.

Kempsey Primary School, near Worcester, has been without a headteacher since early September and the search is continuing to find a replacement.

Parents were handed a letter on the first day of term explaining that Adrian Osborne would be leaving for personal reasons.

In the meantime, Sue Parker, head of Callow End Primary School, has been appointed executive headteacher of both schools.

A spokesperson for Worcestershire County council said they expected a new headteacher to be in post “later in the new year”.

The spokesperson said: “We continue to support Kempsey Primary School where needed. Sue Parker, head of Callow End Primary School, is now executive headteacher over the two schools (Callow End and Kempsey) with the agreement of both governing bodies while the recruitment process for a new headteacher for Kempsey is undertaken. Parents of both schools have been informed.”

They said the lengthy timescale was due to headteachers having to give as much as two terms notice that they are leaving a school.

As previously reported in your Worcester News, parents with children at Kempsey Primary School were handed a letter on the first day of term explaining that Mr Osborne would be leaving after four-and-a-half years in the post.

In a prepared statement released at the time, Jonathan Sutton, chairman of governors, said: “Before the end of the summer term, we received and accepted the resignation of headteacher Adrian Osborne.

“We have been working with the local authority to recruit an interim head teacher and are hopeful to have someone permanent in place for the school as soon as possible.

“The governing body would like to thank Mr Osborne and his supportive family for all the work they have done and the sacrifices they have made for our school.”

Mrs Parker was unavailable for comment when your Worcester News went to press.

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