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Denice Halpin will take control of secondary school


KING Harold School has appointed a new headteacher as it continues its efforts to make a break with the past.

The Waltham Abbey School, in Broomstick Hall Road, has announced that Denice Halpin, who is currently deputy head at Mayflower School in Billericay, will take over on January 1, 2010.

King Harold has been without a permanent headteacher since Mike Feehan stepped down in May this year after ten years at the helm.

It had previously been threatened with closure by the Government after poor GCSE scores but has recently become a National Challenge School and a member of The Kemnal Trust which has successfully turned around Debden Park School, in Loughton.

A recent Ofsted report for the school stated: “King Harold is improving quickly... the improvement is due largely to the school’s recent association with the Kemnal Trust and the expertise in school improvement that it has shared and provided.”

Ms Halpin will take over from David Morrish who is currently acting headteacher.

Maryanne Fleming, chairwoman of the recently reconstituted governing body at the school, said: “I look forward to working with Denice to ensure that King Harold School becomes the school of choice for the local communities.

“I am sure that Denice will work effectively with the Kemnal Trust to continue to deliver improvements in Teaching & Learning at the School, and to deliver further improvements in our GCSE results.

“I would also like to take this opportunity to thank David Morrish for leading the school through the last few months of change.”


Your Say Your Guardian

Grimsol, Waltham Abbey says...
10:25pm Wed 4 Nov 09

Whilst I wish Miss Halpin every success in her new role as Headteacher, I do hope she realises exactly what she has taken on board. As a very unhappy, disgruntled parent of a SEN child at King Harold if I had the opportunity to move the child I would do so tomorrow!

Abbeyman, Waltham Abbey says...
5:26pm Sat 7 Nov 09

As an ex-pupil and father of two children at King Harold I want to say how pleased I am with the improvements the school has made in a short space of time, and suggest any prospective parents keep an open mind and read the latest ofsted report.
it is disappointing to see the negativity expressed about the school and I wish that more people would take an active interest.
My eldest is being given excellent support for her GCSE's and I know that everyone involved with the school is making a huge effort to make things even better

VByrne, Waltham Abbey says...
8:53pm Mon 9 Nov 09

I am very happy to welcome Denice Halpin as our new headteacher. I'm sure that she will be a huge asset to King Harold School. As a parent governor at KHS I have seen at first hand how hard both teachers and students are working. The recent ofsted report was very positive and acknowledged the significant improvements made at our school.
KHS is both dedicated and committed to its continuing success.
The integration into the Kemnal Trust is really only inits infancy and yet tremendous strides have already been made.
For our school to exel we need more parents to get involved. I would be delighted if any parents are interested in taking a more active role in either the the parents association or the parent council. They should contact KHS and leave a message for Vikki Byrne.

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