New Birkenhead University academy headteacher gets six-figure salary

Mar 24 2010 by Liam Murphy, Birkenhead News

THE headteacher of a planned new academy to replace two Wirral schools will earn a six-figure salary.

Specialist education recruitment service Hays and a London publicity company have been brought in to find someone to lead the new school, in Birkenhead.

The University Academy will replace two secondary schools – Park High and Rock Ferry High.

It will be sponsored by the Universities of Chester and Liverpool, Wirral Met College, Birkenhead Sixth Form College and Wirral Council.

Cllr Phil Davies, cabinet member for education, said the “principal designate” was a key appointment.

He said: “All the evidence shows if you get the right person, it is likely to be a success.

“We hope to get someone of really high calibre so we get off to a flying start.

“The salary reflects the importance we attach to the academy and to having someone who is a fantastic leader.”

In December last year, Cllr Davies said the council had decided to locate the academy at the site of Park High.

Rock Ferry High will close and it is hoped the academy will open in September 2011.

The plan has had a controversial route to this stage.

Late last year proposals to close Park High, Rock Ferry High and Ridgeway High and replace them with two academies were dropped after opposition.

More recently Wirral Council’s chief executive Steve Maddox and senior education officer Howard Cooper dismissed Birkenhead MP Frank Field’s claim they had delayed plans to shut down Rock Ferry High and Park High.

Mr Field insisted the academy project was delayed by at least two years, despite low GCSE pass rates at both schools.

The advertisement for the headteacher’s role said the new principal will have a chance to “make a positive difference to the lives of young people in Birkenhead”.

It added: “This will be achieved by providing a high-quality and inspirational learning experience, which will raise standards and transform lives.”

A salary of £90,000-100,000 per year is offered to the successful candidate.

A spokeswoman for the academy sponsors said: “The salary being offered is in line with this type of position in this area.

“The sponsors are looking for someone who is passionate about education and has a proven track record of raising achievement, leading change and raising aspirations.”

A public meeting on the proposals will take place tonight (Wednesday) at Rock Ferry High School, Ravenswood Avenue, Birkenhead, starting at 7pm.

Parents, residents and students are invited to meet the academy sponsors, ask questions and find out more about the plans.

An information website – www.proposeduab.co.uk – was also launched on Monday.

Professor Tim Wheeler, Vice Chancellor of Chester University, said: ‘I very much hope that as many people as possible will take the time to look at the proposals.

“This is a hugely exciting opportunity for students at both schools and also for the wider community.”