Interim headteacher appointed at one of Doncaster's biggest secondary schools

Jean Pickerill has been appointed to run Ridgewood School at Scawsby while a recruitment process for a new head goes on.

She will replace Maggie Dunn, who announced she was standing down from the role in January.

A statement from the school’s governors said: “We have now secured the services of an interim headteacher to support the school during the first term should this be necessary in the event that a substantive appointee cannot take up post until a later date.

“Mrs Jean Pickerill is an experienced secondary headteacher with a record of successful leadership and management within schools, as well as being a School Improvement Partner and Local Leader of Education.

“She has supported a number of schools as an interim headteacher and school improvement advisor amongst other roles, and she offers particular strengths around community confidence, pastoral care and staff development.

“We feel that Mrs Pickerill has the expertise to support our school moving forward during the first term from September should this prove necessary in terms of facilitating a substantive appointment.”

The closing date for applications for the new head is June 8 with bosses moving to appoint Mrs Pickerill in case a full time appointment cannot be made by the start of the new term in September.

Mrs Dunn, who was in charge at Ridgewood for six years, arrived from Colne Valley High School in Huddersfield.

The school, which has more than 1,400 pupils, first opened its doors in 1968.

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