A SCHOOL has appointed a new headteacher with immediate effect.

Teri-Leigh Jones has taken over from James Forbes as head of academy at Maltings Academy, in Spinks Lane, Witham.

Mrs Jones was senior vice-principal at the academy before her promotion.

She joined the senior leadership team at Maltings in May after working at the Boswells School in Chelmsford.

Mrs Jones said: “I am delighted to be taking up this new role and am looking forward to playing my part to continue providing an outstanding education for the children of Witham.

“I have loved the time spent here already and it has really given me a sense of the strengths of this school and the fantastic students we work with every day.

“They have responded to the most challenging of circumstances with patience and hard work, and I am so pleased to have them back in school.

“We know this year is going to be very different to what has come before, but I have every confidence in our staff and students rising to the occasion, as they always do.”

Maltings Academy is currently rated ‘outstanding’ by Ofsted following its most recent inspection in 2015.

Bosses say Mrs Jones has already had a “significant impact” during her short time at Maltings due to her “vision, high standards and personable leadership”.

Speaking about Mrs Jones’s appointment, Julian Drinkall, who is chief executive at the Academies Enterprise Trust (AET), which runs Maltings, said: “We are delighted to welcome Teri-Leigh as the new head of Maltings Academy.

"She is an experienced senior leader who has proven her ability to oversee all aspects of a successful school and has particular expertise in transforming teaching and learning.

"At Academies Enterprise Trust (AET ) we are totally committed to our academies providing an education that helps young people go on to lead remarkable lives.

"It is clear that this is a reality at Maltings Academy, and I have every confidence that under Teri-Leigh’s leadership this will only continue.”

Previous head Mr Forbes served in the role for a one-year period starting in September 2019.

Colin Sinclair, Secondary Executive Director at AET said: “Our thanks go to Mr Forbes after seven years of excellent service at Maltings.

"On behalf of everyone at AET, I’d would like to thank him for professionalism and dedication to Maltings Academy and wish him every success in the future.”