Mel Easter, of Hillfield, Dartmouth, writes:

In response to last week’s front-page headline about Dartmouth Academy, Chronicle, November 27, I write not as a parent of a pupil at the ­academy, but as a former head teacher of an outstanding ­primary school who has lived in the Dartmouth community for 30 years.

Over the years I have watched the journey of a school that has always been at the heart of its community. I share the aspirations of many others in wanting a school that we can all take pride in.

In my former role I steered pupils towards Dartmouth Academy and will continue to do so because I believe that there is a proud future for the school.

Ofsted quite rightly identified areas that need to be improved, but alongside that it praised the strengths that we have often seen in practice across the community.

I have been delighted to become a member of the new interim advisory committee at the academy, a committee that will leave no stone unturned

in ensuring that those areas reported in last week’s edition are addressed rapidly and effectively.

During my initial visits I have been impressed with the quality and commitment of the staff I have met and in the ­leadership and vision of the new strategic team, headed by acting principal Tina Graham.

Working together, we are absolutely determined that Dartmouth’s children, young people and their families are given the outstanding school they, and their community, so richly deserve.