Headteacher who lost his job for remarrying vows to turn around Gosport school

Lyndon Strong has been named head at St John’s Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School, in Grove Road, Gosport.

The news comes three months after he was forced to leave his role as acting headteacher at St Mary’s Catholic Primary by the Bishop of Portsmouth because he had remarried after being divorced.

St John’s has been told it requires improvement following an Ofsted inspection carried out on November 24 and 25, with the report published on January 11.

But Mr Strong is confident he can help revive the school’s fortunes.

He said: ‘I love it here.

‘It is good to come in here. I like the place and there is a real community feel about it – it is similar to St Mary’s.

‘I’m satisfied that we are clear, as a school, about where we need to be and how we are going to get there.

‘A number of the points raised by Ofsted have been addressed within school already and we will continue to work to rapidly improve the school, drawing in specialist support from the local authority and teaching school.

‘I would like to thank the staff for their dedication and commitment, the pupils for their enthusiasm and the parents and whole school community for the support they have shown.’

Mr Strong is currently acting headteacher at St John’s, but said the aim is to stay at the school and see all of the changes implemented come to fruition.

The Ofsted report said the ‘rate of progress between groups of pupils, subjects and classes differ significantly’.

Although Ofsted acknowledged that progress had been made from its previous report, it added that ‘leaders’ actions have not brought out consistently good teaching and outcomes, particularly in English and maths.’

The report went on to say that ‘pupils’ work in books show that some teachers do not have high enough expectations of what pupils can achieve.’

Parents of St Mary’s pupils started a petition to keep Mr Strong at the school, with many saying he had turned the school around – after being told it required improvement by Ofsted.