"Inspirational" Headteacher praised by MP

12.18.00am GMT Tue 25th Mar 2008

The "inspirational leadership" of Colchester Headteacher Mr Jonathan Tippett has been praised in the House of Commons by the Town's MP Bob Russell - a view which was endorsed by Schools Minister Mr Jim Knight MP.

Mr Russell made his comment during education questions when he said that the latest Ofsted report on Alderman Blaxill Secondary School had said that progress since the previous monitoring inspection was "satisfactory". He said that he had no doubt that this was down to the "inspirational leadership of Executive Head Mr Tippett" who took over at Alderman Blaxill in January, in addition to his role in charge of Thomas Lord Audley College at Monkwick since last year and The Stanway School which was his first Headship.

As a result of his latest high-profile Parliamentary efforts to stop proposals to close Alderman Blaxill School, Mr Russell has accepted an offer from the Schools Minister to meet him to discuss the future of the School. Last autumn Mr Russell had a special debate in the House of Commons when he argued that closing the School was not in the best interests of the Shrub End community and its children.

Essex County Council has put forward a proposal to close both Alderman Blaxill and Thomas Lord Audley, and to build a 1,500 place Academy on the TLA site. This has led to massive opposition, with almost 80 per cent of respondents to a consultation registering their objection.

Mr Russell told MPs during education questions that the solution to secondary school provision in South Colchester was not the closure of the two schools, but for Alderman Blaxill, Thomas Lord Audley and Stanway schools to operate as a federation under the leadership of Mr Tippett as Executive Head on a permanent basis.

He told the Commons that "the Roman River Federation of secondary schools in South and West Colchester is the right way forward to serve the three schools concerned."

Responding, Schools Minister Mr Knight acknowledged the praise which Mr Russell had given Mr Tippett. He added: "I have not been briefed on the Roman River Federation, but I am very happy to look at the issue and to meet and talk with the MP for Colchester."

Afterwards Mr Russell said that he had immediately written to the Minister to seek an early meeting. He added: "I have coined the phrase Roman River Federation because I think this geographic identification for this area of Colchester is one which conveys a more attractive image than the compass description of south and west."