PPearson

Published at 00:00, Saturday, 03 February 2007

A HEADTEACHER who left a failing Furness school in turmoil is now in charge of education at a jail.

Former Thorncliffe School head Paul Segalini is the new education manager at Haverigg Prison.

Mr Segalini resigned as head of the Barrow secondary in May. This followed Thorncliffe failing an Ofsted inspection in February last year and the school being placed in special measures.

The Ofsted report which was published in March said: "The persons responsible for leading, managing or governing the school are not demonstrating the capacity to secure the necessary improvement in the school."

After the inspection Cumbria County Council brought in management from Dowdales School, Dalton, to turn the school around. Dowdales head Liz Moffatt and assistant head Tony Sinton continued the rescue operation when Mr Segalini resigned.

New headteacher Gordon Wilson took charge of the school in January. Thorncliffe is still in special measures, but Ofsted say it is now making satisfactory progress.

Mr Segalini has been in his post at the Category C prison since the start of January.

Haverigg prisoners can study basic skills in literacy, numeracy and IT right through to Open University degrees.

HMP Haverigg says education and training is an integral part of resettlement offender management. It is also regarded as crucial in reducing the risk of re-offending.

When the Evening Mail contacted Mr Segalini he confirmed his new position but did not want to say more about his role.

The Evening Mail also submitted a Freedom of Information Act request to Cumbria County Council to find out if Mr Segalini had received a severance package when he left Thorncliffe. The request was blocked by the authority who said it was "personal data and is exempt".

Published by http://www.nwemail.co.uk