Parents of pupils at Ryde Academy have been written to today with news of a new permanent Principal. This in from AET. Ed
Mrs Joy Ballard has been head at Willows High School in Cardiff since 2011 when it was one of the lowest achieving schools in the country.
Following her appointment the percentage of students achieving good grades in English and Mathematics has soared from 14% in that year to 28% in 2012, 38% in 2013 and 50% in 2014. She is a visionary leader who has achieved great success through her unlimited enthusiasm, professional commitment and drive to ensure that every learner strives to achieve their very best.
Mrs Ballard is very much looking forward to her new appointment on the Island and says:
“I am absolutely delighted to join the team at Ryde and to lead the Academy further forward. I believe it has the potential to be a great school and particularly because I have lived locally in Southampton all my life, I am passionate about the Island, its people and all it has to offer.
“I know there has been a great deal of change over the past few years and fully understand the need for stability whilst securing the very best outcomes for the students at the school. I’m so looking forward to getting to know them all.”
No new head for Sandown Bay yet
The recruitment campaign to appoint a Principal at Sandown Bay Academy to succeed Eric Jackson in September was unsuccessful and a re-advertisement of the post is immediately underway.
Dame Janet Paraskeva, who chaired the Recruitment Panel to fill both the Sandown Bay and Ryde leadership roles, said:
“We set extremely high standards for the appointment of the two headships. We are sure that Joy will deliver exactly what Ryde Academy needs and we now continue our work to ensure that the right leader is appointed to Sandown Bay to continue the excellent work begun by Eric Jackson.”
