Academy head to step down

LEAVING . . . Oasis Academy principal John Alder

Alder to retire for ‘personal reasons’

OASIS Academy Oldham principal John Alder is stepping down on Friday — only 10 months after the school opened.

The 56-year-old will be replaced by interim principal Sir Iain Hall, former head at Parrs Wood High School, Didsbury, after deciding to retire due to personal reasons.

However, Mr Alder will remain seconded to the educational foundation Oasis Community Learning, which sponsors the academy, until the end of the year.

He said: “I have made this decision for personal reasons and remain as committed as ever to the academy. I am confident it will achieve its mission to provide an outstanding education for its students and to become an outstanding resource for the community.

“The academy is at an important stage in its development. Maintaining continuity of leadership and achieving the smooth and prompt introduction of a new principal are important for our community.

“It is essential that the pace of change does not slacken and that the academy continues to have clear leadership both before and after my departure.”

Mr Alder, who is married with grown-up children, joined the former Kaskenmoor School, Hollinwood, in 1997 and became head in 2003.

He was appointed designate principal and then principal of Oasis Academy Oldham which replaced Kaskenmoor and South Chadderton schools in September. It will move into a new school in Hollinwood next year.

Mr Alder added: “I have enjoyed being with fantastic young people, not just at Kaskenmoor but from the former South Chadderton school as well, and bringing them together as an academy.

“The children on both campuses are wonderful.”

Sir Iain turned Parrs Wood into to one of the most oversubscribed state schools in the country and was knighted for services to education in 2002.

He is an executive adviser of Future Leaders, which aims to raise the attainment of disadvantaged children through effective, inspirational school leadership. Sir Iain has been working with the academy as a strategic adviser.

John Murphy, director of education for Oasis Community Learning, said: “He is a very distinguished and experienced school leader who has successfully led a number of schools through periods of rapid change.

“He will be supported by Michael Taylor, who will take on the role of associate principal. Michael also has good experience of leading in schools which have experienced rapid improvement.

“These two appointments will immediately provide continuity, aid the transition and give Oasis time to appoint a permanent successor who will lead the academy into its new building later next year.

“We would like to publicly thank John for the tremendous amount of hard work that he has put in to ensure the successful start of Oasis Academy Oldham.

“The academy is in a very stable condition and this is largely due to John’s exemplary leadership and vision.”