CHANGES are being made to turn around the ‘inadequate’ rated Dartmouth Academy, education bosses have promised.

David Arnold, chairman of Academies South West which runs the school, said he was confident that a new era in education could be achieved in Dartmouth.

Speaking after the school received a damning Ofsted report that has sent it into special measures, he said: ‘Since Dartmouth Academy’s very disappointing GCSE results in August, we have implemented a broad programme of changes that we believe will transform the quality of education. Principal among these was the appointment of Tina Graham as acting head.

‘Just three weeks into the start of the current academic year, when Ofsed inspectors visited, they noted how Tina had already “provided much needed direction and purpose and succeeded in galvanising the support of staff”.

‘As chairman of Academies South West, I would like to thank Tina, her team and the new interim advisory committee for working tirelessly this term to build the foundations for a new era of outstanding education in Dartmouth.

‘I would also like to thank the pupils, students and their parents for their support, words of encouragement and heartfelt appreciation for Tina and her team.

‘Together we will provide an outstanding education, in a nurturing environment, for the children and young people of this town as quickly and as thoroughly as possible.’

Meanwhile, former academy principal Nick Hindmarsh has explained how his resignation came about in August and reiterated his support for students and parents.

In a short statement, he said: ‘My resignation was agreed in principle two weeks before the [GCSE] results were known and formally signed off one week before. The inference that the results were the reason is unhelpful.

‘Your paper reported this at the time and all messages from ASW and Mary Shaw, then chairman of governors, and myself made this clear then. The date of the announcement was delayed with the agreement of all parties.

‘My agreement with ASW on leaving meant I could not make any derogatory comments about the trust. I agreed to and will comply with this, as the most important thing now is for the academy to look to the future, not to get drawn into the past.

‘I will not become involved in any further public debate about how this judgement came about, those who know me and worked with me can draw their own conclusions. The children and their parents are what matter, not mine or others egos.’

More on this story in Friday’s Chronicle