College ordered to improve by Ofsted won’t appoint new head

The top role at Thomas Rotherham College has been plunged into uncertainty since Dr Richard Williams retired in December 2017 — two weeks before the damning Ofsted inspection.

The college was then rocked by the sudden and unexplained departure last December of his permanent replacement, Shirley Brookes-Mills, after just six months in charge - despite Ofsted reporting before her departure that the college was making “reasonable progress”.

The 1,548-pupil college converted to an academy just before Dr Williams’ retirement, joining Oakwood High and Sitwell Junior School in the Inspire Trust.

Now, Oakwood headteacher David Naisbitt has revealed there are no plans to recruit a permanent college principal.

“I am primarily acting as principal,” he said.

“That will stay the case for the foreseeable future.”

Mr Naisbitt, who has recently been appointed as a Deputy Lieutenant for South Yorkshire, said staffing was “really good” and governors had taken the decision not to change anything.

“Things are looking positive. Why change things? It’s unnecessary,” he said.

“In the summer we appointed a deputy principal, Dave Shaw, and he heads up the college on a daily basis.

“I move between the two sites. I spend part of my time at TRC and part at Oakwood - both have got strong senior leadership teams. 

“I am a presence when I need to be a presence.”