New Kingmoor junior head is one of youngest in Cumbria

By Dave Gudgeon

Last updated 11:23, Friday, 10 October 2008

A Carlisle teacher is poised to become one of the youngest heads in Cumbria.

Andy Cairns

Andrew Cairns, aged just 30, is currently deputy head at the city’s Belle Vue Primary and will take control of Kingmoor Junior School from January.

Andrew will replace Rosie Watling, who has been acting head at Kingmoor this term, becoming the sixth person in charge in just a few years. But Mr Cairns will inherit a school which has just received a glowing Ofsted report following a two-day inspection last month.

And the former pupil at Belle Vue and Morton schools is looking forward to his new appointment at a school with 255 children on its roll.

He said: “I can’t wait to get started. I know the staff there are both dedicated and talented and we have a real opportunity to take the school forward into exciting times.”

Mr Cairns studied sports science and music at Manchester Metropolitan University before going on to Exeter University.

He worked briefly at a school in Devon before the pull of family and friends brought him back to Carlisle.

The Ofsted report says the school provides a satisfactory education for pupils and, through a period of unsettled leadership, staff have maintained a safe, caring and supportive environment.

Pupils at the school are very happy, enjoy learning and they make the progress expected of them.

It goes on to say Mrs Watling, who retired as head of Belle Vue primary last summer, has worked swiftly and effectively with staff and governors setting a clear agenda for the immediate future that identifies the right priorities and focuses clearly on improving provision and achievement further.

The report adds that pupils’ spiritual, moral, social and cultural development is good.

They learn the importance of behaving well, working hard and attending whenever they can and that this stands them in good stead for future success.

The lead inspector Gillian Salter-Smith concludes the report with a letter to all pupils urging them to keep up those standards. It also points out that in future teachers will ensure they are:

Fully challenged in lessons, especially those capable of reaching the highest standards;

Making best use of literacy and numeracy targets;

Marking work in the most helpful way for them.

Mrs Watling arrived at the school after executive head Sharon McGaffin returned to her previous role as head of the Kingmoor Infant School.

She was in charge of both schools for a time following the resignation of Christine Boucetla after staff passed a vote of no confidence in her.

She followed long-serving head Andy Baker and for a short time deputy head Louise Fawcett acted as head while Ms Boucetla was on sick leave for two terms.

Kingmoor Junior took on some pupils from the now-closed Belah in September and there is reference in the Ofsted report to the care and support provided to help them settle in.