Headteacher steps down at troubled Haydon Bridge High School in Northumberland

Following an inspection in January, Haydon Bridge High School was judged to require “special measures” in a report published last month.

Northumberland County Council has now confirmed headteacher David Nisbet has taken the decision to step back from his role.

An interim executive board is set to be appointed by the council to provide “expertise” and “high quality governance”.

The board will support future improvement and oversee the process of academisation. The inspection comes amid strike action by staff who have raised concerns about poor pupil behaviour and a lack of a proper behaviour management plan from senior leadership.

The IEB will take on the responsibilities of a normally constituted governing body, including the management of the budget, curriculum, staffing, pay and performance management and the appointment of the headteacher.

In a statement, Mr Nisbet said: “I have had the privilege of leading Haydon Bridge High School since September 2023. My commitment to the school has been unwavering during this time, however, I have now taken the decision to step back from this role.

“I would like to take the opportunity to wish the school community, and, in particular, the wonderful student body all the very best in the coming months and years.”

The county council said that the school’s governing body “thanks David for the commitment and dedication he has shown to the school and its community during his time in post, and they wish David every success in the future”.

Chair of Governors and Executive Directors of Children’s Services at Northumberland County Council Audrey Kingham confirmed interim measures were being put in place immediately.

She said: “Following the school Ofsted inspection and subsequent report, we are all very aware of the progress required and the pace at which improvement is needed. This is a strong partnership and a good opportunity that I expect everyone will embrace to drive the improvements needed.

“I have worked with the CEO of Cumbrian Education Trust at pace over the last week to secure interim senior leadership at Haydon Bridge High School and would like to thank Lorrayne Hughes for the commitment to work in partnership with Northumberland County Council and DFE Rise teams.

“As a result, Kath Pigdon will now be interim executive headteacher at William Howard School and Haydon Bridge High School and Richard O’Connor will be engaged as interim head of school at Haydon Bridge High School, working with the current staff and senior leadership team to take forward our post inspection action plan and RISE plans across the summer term.”

The school was previously placed in special measures in 2014, and saw several subsequent “inadequate” ratings by the education watchdog.

A previous attempt to turn the school into an academy failed when academy trust Bright Tribe walked away in 2017, returning the school to the control of the county council. Bright Tribe itself closed the following year.

Haydon Bridge has meanwhile been beset with declining pupil numbers. The council did consider closing the school in 2017, but the plans were dropped in 2018 after intense opposition from parents.

The school has the largest catchment area of any secondary school in England, covering a vast swathe of west Northumberland.