THE principal of the troubled Whitehaven Academy has stepped down after two years.

An announcement was made this morning that Warren Turner has decided to leave the role and a new interim head of school has been secured. 

Only yesterday, Copeland MP Trudy Harrison commended Mr Turner for his efforts during a turbulent year, describing him as a "patriach of the school."

Speaking about his decision, Mr Turner said: "I have relished my role as headteacher of the Whitehaven Academy over the last two years. 

"I’ve been very lucky here in that the whole community - from pupils and teachers through to parents and politicians - have been the most supportive and inspirational groups I have ever encountered in my career so far.

"I’ve been humbled by the community buy-in to my approach and grateful to them for giving me a chance. It would be an understatement to say that my tenure as Head has not been without its challenges. However, I am justifiably proud of all we have achieved together in providing a successful platform for the future.

"Although I will be extremely sorry to leave the academy, I have come to the realisation that now is the right time for me to move on to another role with similar levels of challenge either in school improvement or headship."

Andrea Bateson will step up from her present position of senior assistant headteacher to interim head of school within the academy while a process starts to appoint a permanent replacement.

The academy's current sponsors Bright Tribe Trust, said Mr Turner had worked tirelessly with all stakeholders to create an ethos based on trust with regular Parent Forums and open evenings, with excellent relationships with local and national politicians, headteachers and parents represented by the Parent Action Group at the heart of his approach.

"The focus on community and morale have resulted in significant reductions in staff absence and corresponding increases in pupil attendance which are all the more impressive given that they have come at a time of turbulence in relation to uncertainties around the building and future sponsorship," said the statement.

The academy now has plans for significant capital investment and is in the process of being re-brokered to a local sponsor, Cumbria Education Trust, which is overseeing the academy under a service level agreement ahead of the transfer. 

Angela Barry, interim chief executive at Bright Tribe Trust, sponsor of the academy, said: "Warren has provided strong leadership during a time of turbulence and uncertainty putting the local community at the heart of the school’s journey to become the local school of choice."