A PRIMARY school which lost its headteacher last year is looking to draft in extra support for its deputy head while governors decide how the school should be led in future.

The governors of Ben Rhydding Primary School told parents and staff at a meeting on Wednesday night (February 10) that they have looked at options including becoming an academy, appointing an executive head, and a conventional headteacher role, from September.

But the governing body is seeking to recruit extra leadership support for its existing deputy head in the meantime.

The meeting heard there are currently not enough staff on the leadership team.

And it emerged that the school has been declared a top priority 'Priority Four' school by the education authority, entitling it to help with more funding.

The school’s long serving headteacher, Carry Lynott, retired last year following a period of absence.

The school, working with the local education authority, then entered a partnership which saw Burley Oaks Primary School head, Claire Lee, divide her time between both schools, acting as an interim head for Ben Rhydding Primary.

But Mrs Lee will leave the role with Ben Rhydding this half term.

A report of a review carried out last year on behalf of Bradford Council by the Bradford Primary Improvement Partnership highlighted ‘inadequate’ leadership and management over time, and pointed at a dip in standards in some subjects among pupils.

Governors say the dip is likely to be a nationwide phenomenon, however, due to a change in the curriculum. They have addressed various issues since the report.

Chairman of Ben Rhydding’s governing body, Andrew Rabbitt, told a packed meeting at St John’s Church Hall that the governors would need to come to a decision on the future model of management for the school

Mr Rabbitt said he did not feel the school was currently in a position to become an academy, although governors had looked at it in the past, and may consider it again in future.

He explained the advantages and disadvantages of both an executive head and a traditional style headteacher model.

An executive head would work at more than one school, and could share good practice and staff between schools. Executive heads are typically supported by several other staff in leadership roles.

Mr Rabbitt said the school had never fully operated under an executive head model, although the interim arrangement with Mrs Lee was similar to this system

A full time head could devote all their time to Ben Rhdding Primary, although is said to be the more costly option.

A straw poll of parents and staff present at the meeting was overwhelmingly in favour of appointing a full time headteacher. Parents were concerned that teachers may be pulled from the classroom to do other work, while there is a shortage of staff on the leadership team.

The governing body has not deciced on the preferred option, however. It has deadline of February 19 for making the decision on the future management of the school, which will enable it to advertise any new role in good time for the next school year.