'Outstanding' headmaster steps down after 18 years
Dr Tom Clark, the headmaster at the Brumby Engineering College in Scunthorpe, has retired after 18 years at the helm.
But he revealed he might make a return in another guise to the 705-student campus on Cemetery Road.
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Farewell: Dr Tom Clark with pupils at Brumby Engineering College
Dr Clark, 63, said: "I would love to serve as a governor at the school sometime in the future if I was invited to do so. I believe I have the experience for the job."
He had originally intended to retire last summer, but agreed to stay on until the search for his successor was completed.
The outgoing head master, who was born in Peterborough, has spent the past 42 years as a teacher.
During his time at Brumby, Dr Clark has overseen the £14 million rebuilding of the 88-year-old campus and the switch seven years ago from a comprehensive to a specialist engineering college.
He said: "We are very proud of our specialist status, which is recognition of the high quality of education we provide.
"In seven years, we have gone from 25 per cent none to more than 70 per cent C-grade passes and above in technology. Our score placed us in the top two per cent of all schools across the country for value-added and, in 2007, we were proclaimed the most improved engineering college in the UK.
"We link engineering with science, maths, ICT and technology – subjects which are of vital importance to young people in the 21st century."
Dr Clark, who holds a doctorate in education management, is also proud he has fostered twinning exchanges for the Brumby students with schools in Dalian in China, and Chiba in Japan.
He plans to remain at his Derrythorpe home with his wife Ruth, a retired school teacher, and their pet spaniel Spice.
Derek Permaine, the chairman of the governors at Brumby, who also retires this year, said: "Dr Clark is an outstanding head teacher. His commitment to Brumby and to raising standards has been total. He will be sorely missed".
9 Comments
by Bill_Igerent
Thursday, March 08 2012, 2:01PM
“Albeit the Telegraph has semingly responded to challenges from its readers to set the record straight with its latest report:
http://tinyurl.com/7hsb946
I remain sceptical and now intrigued; particularly as to why the Telegraph has reneged on confirming the source for its original highly misleading report and journalism?!
Best will in the world, at a time of Leveson and the public scrutiny and condemnation of press standards; I find it amazing that supposed professional journalists fail to cross reference and check out validity of their sources and reports?!
Especially when ordinary joe public picked up on and posted comments on the 20 January Ofsted report in the salient Telegraph articles on & around 25 January. Articles reporting on the inadequate performance of John Leggot and North Lincs record of failing schools; the worst in the UK?!”
by Bill_Igerent
Tuesday, February 21 2012, 12:10PM
“Credit to NLC Cabinet Member for Adults and Childrens Services, cllr Rob Waltham for responding to the concerns on the timing and nature of this report.
Cllr Waltham seemingly agrees with those concerns and states "I do agree with you on the reporting. In fact I thought the pic of the Head leaving was odd. Although I know the report wasn't released until the last few days".
I advised cllr Waltham AGAIN that this was somewhat odd when Ofsted published the report online and it has been publically available since 20 January. He subsequently changed his tack to:
"It is a fact that schools [colleges] are not permitted to release findings until they are published by Ofsted. Perfectly reasonable justification for this is that the school may wish to appeal a decision and wait for the outcome of that appeal, I guess."
"However as to why the Telegraph didn't report this. I suggest you contact them."
Clearly the gist of his and NLC's position appears to be nothing to with us, guv. Which I find staggering when he is the responsible Cabinet Member and THE leading/controlling light on the conservative led NLC?! ;)
After the STs recent full, open and transparent reporting of Ofsted's and DfE reports on the performance of John Leggott College and North Lincolnshire's schools.
Lets see if a formal press complaint to Mel Cook, ST Editor willl flush out what has been going on here with the nature of its misleading reporting on Brumby college; the reasons for the inconsistency and WHY?!”
by 2baconbuttys
Monday, February 20 2012, 5:51PM
“I really couldn't believe this article when I read it. Outstanding at under achieving yes but that's all. The management at Brumby should all be replaced and new blood brought in to give this school a much needed transfusion of vision and energy. It's what our children deserve. And what did the governors think they were doing sitting back and watching this happen instead of holding the head and management to account for their failings. A complete new board of governors might not go amiss either. How on earth could the telegraph print such utter tripe about this head teacher without doing their homework first. It doesn't say much for journalism does it.”
by Bill_Igerent
Monday, February 20 2012, 5:47PM
“@Jumbone Maybe a tad unjust to shoot the messenger here.
I was waxing satirical whilst parodying NLC's supposedly astute minders & PR/Communications tsars.
This latest Ofsted report was originally exposed on 25 January in a reader's comment to: http://tinyurl.com/6wgjfx4
It came around the time of the revelation that Ofsted had equally judged the overall effectiveness of John Leggott College as being INADEQUATE from 2007/10, during Nic Dakin's tenure as college Principal!
And immediately on the back of the Dept for Education reporting that 1/5th of primary schools were failing and that overall North Lincolnshire's schools have the worst performance record in the UK!
Why the ST has failed to report on the failings of Brumby College since the report was published and available from the Ofsted web site since 20 Jan?!
And why the timing, tone and motivation for the above development and report?!
The rest, I will leave to others' judgments and conclusions! ;)”
by Jumbone
Monday, February 20 2012, 3:30PM
“I have just read this story again, did the reporter read their Ofsted report?
"...the persons responsible for leading, managing or governing the school are not demonstrating the capacity to secure the necessary improvement.
...the progress made by all students and their attainment, especially in English and mathematics, at the end of Year 11, significantly restrict their life-chances"
Outstanding?????? Try 'Disgraced'”
by ScunnyMike
Monday, February 20 2012, 2:39PM
“@Riach,
"As a governor at Brumby I would like to say that Dr Clark has achieved amazing things for Brumby"
Like getting into Special Measures?
Come to think of it what were the governors doing to let that happen?”
by Jumbone
Monday, February 20 2012, 1:32PM
“This is the man who sat back and did nothing when the little darlings from his school trashed Brumby Cemetery.
It's also very bad form for an ex head to return as a governor. It demonstrates a lack of trust in the new head.”
by Bill_Igerent
Monday, February 20 2012, 9:58AM
“Hmm!!?? Intriguing development and somewhat dodgy hype after the Ofsted has just judged the overall effectiveness of the college as inadequate and, placed it in special measures?!
Page 4 of their 20 Jan 2012 report:
http://tinyurl.com/7zjvxtk
On a positive note, something for North Lincolnshire Council's minders/spin doctors come PR Communications tsars to crank up their agile minds and hyped up spin on! Lols”
by Riach Independent Financial Advisers
Monday, February 20 2012, 9:25AM
“As a governor at Brumby I would like to say that Dr Clark has achieved amazing things for Brumby and he is an excellent head teacher. His has raising standards at brumby over the last 18 years
I would like to see him as a governor at the school with his vast experience.”