27^th May 2002

Dear Parents

As you will know, I am on secondment this year, working for the Government as an Advisor on Social Inclusion. This has involved developing staff training materials with thirteen education authorities, helping them improve pupil behaviour in some very challenging school situations.

The issue of improving pupil behaviour is a very high priority on the Government’s agenda for continued raising of standards in schools. Consequently, based on experience developed this year, I have been offered a post to set up and then direct a National Programme for Behaviour Management in schools.

With the agreement and support of our Governors, I have decided to accept the post and will therefore not be returning to the school in September.

This has been a particularly difficult decision because I enjoy enormously the privilege of working at Theale Green. My experience this year has confirmed how lucky we are to have such a dedicated and talented staff. The staff team at Theale Green has never been better and through their efforts we can be confident that the school will continue to grow from strength to strength. I am particularly grateful to Andrew Carter and the Senior Team for the way they have led the school this year despite a difficult budget and the continuing problems of teacher recruitment in this area of the country. Equally, our governing body is of the highest calibre and will ensure continuity of high standards. The school will therefore be well placed to receive a new Headteacher in January.

I have worked in some 71 schools so far this year and none better than Theale Green. Often as a visitor you get directed into the Headteacher’s office but I always try to bypass that and find an early opportunity to talk to the students. Nowhere have I met more confident and self reliant young people, able to express their views intelligently with respect for the opinion of others. The vast majority of our students, in a truly comprehensive school, deserve our admiration for the way they embrace the learning opportunities here. They are a pleasure to work with and I am enormously proud of them all.

That is what I miss now and the decision not to return in September has not been easy. I remain committed to ensuring the future wellbeing of our school and have guaranteed the Governors that I will help by supporting the school until a new Headteacher is appointed. In the meantime Mr Andrew Carter has agreed to continue as acting headteacher for a further term.

I hope there will be an opportunity to meet you at events and evenings in the near future. After September I will still be a Theale Green parent, if not the Headteacher!

Yours sincerely

Chris Gittins

Headteacher