A HEAD teacher is leaving his academy after five successful years working to transform its fortunes.
Calvin Kipling has steered Darlington School of Mathematics and Science to a string of awards and record exams results since he took the helm in 2010.
The former Head Teacher of the Year in the prestigious Northern Echo Teaching Awards has now decided to step down to pursue other interests within education. DSMS is part of the Longfield Academy Trust. Deputy head teacher of Longfield Academy Sara Davidson has been appointed interim head teacher.
Mr Kipling, of Sedgefield, decided to train as a teacher in 1998 after working in retail. He trained at Northumbria University and in schools in Cramlington and Peterlee. He spent six and a half years at Longfield as deputy head.
In 2010 he was at the centre of a move to lift the fortunes of the school which involved rebranding and renaming the failing Branksome Comprehensive that was struggling in the bottom one per cent nationally.
Since then, a new name, cultural shift and overhaul of curriculum and facilities has seen it secure a position among the best 17 per cent of schools in the country.
Its transformation was recognised nationally and it secured the Prince’s Teaching Institute School Leadership Programme Mark and further acknowledgment from the same body for music and arts.
Progress was also recognised by Ofsted officials who awarded the school ‘good’ in key areas including leadership and management, teaching and pupil behaviour. “I have really enjoyed my time at DSMS which has been challenging, rewarding and a great deal of fun,” Mr Kipling said.
“Staff and students have been a delight to work with and the systems are in place for DSMS to move into its next phase of development. We have 120 students coming to us in September which shows that parents like what we offer.”
Mrs Davidson has worked for the trust for the past eight years and as well as senior leadership experience is also an English teacher.
At Longfield she has been involved in a host of school improvement measures to ensure the best outcomes for students.
