Headteacher announces retirement after 11 years leading school

After 11 years at the helm of an East Lancashire secondary school, its headteacher has announced she is retiring from teaching.

Whitworth Community High School's headteacher Gill Middlemas is leaving her role after more than a decade there and nearly 20 years in school leadership in Lancashire.

Under her direction, Whitworth has grown from around 400 students to more than 660, and its Ofsted rating has risen from ‘requires improvement’ to ‘good’.

The school's GCSE results have also risen under her leadership, with grades in 2023 placing the school in the top 20 in Lancashire.

In recent years, Mrs Middlemas and business manager Gaynor Mellor have focused on the development of a new school within the site off Hall Fold.

It will see the 1960s buildings replaced with modern facilities, designed to reflect Rossendale's industrial heritage and the valley's natural landscape.

From September, Mrs Middlemas will be replaced by Andrew Oliver.

On her career, Mrs Middlemas said: “I have loved the time I have spent at Whitworth Community High School.

"I am immensely proud of everything we have achieved, not just for our young people and their futures, but for their families, for staff and governors and for the wider local community.

“The area now has a highly successful, academically rigorous and completely comprehensive high school, of which everyone can be proud.

"There is nobody better placed than Andrew to lead the school as it continues its journey and the school is very fortunate to have him as its next headteacher.”

Mr Oliver has worked alongside Mrs Middlemas for the past 11 years, most recently as acting associate head while the school's rebuild was carried out.

He has already begun the process of change by reviewing the roles of his senior team, but has said the culture created by his predecessor of consistency and respectful behaviour will continue.

Mr Oliver said: “I feel humbled and immensely proud to have been appointed to the role of headteacher at Whitworth Community High School and I am looking forward to beginning my new role in September."