School Update – Headteacher Announcement

The following message went out to parents from our Headteacher on Thursday 17 July:

I am dropping you a line to say I will be stepping down as Headteacher at The Friary School at the end of December 2025.

Having joined the school in September 2016, I have thoroughly enjoyed the rollercoaster nature of the job, and it has been a pleasure to see our school flourish.

Since joining the school, things have changed a lot, and there have been plenty of adventures along the way. Together we have now built a popular and over-subscribed school; we now have students consistently earning stunning exam results, and we now have plenty of smiles on the faces of our children as they embrace a million-and-one new opportunities.

Certainly, from a personal perspective, and from seeing our students each day, I know the overwhelming majority are doing amazing things, are having fun, are keeping themselves safe, and are destined only for better and greater things to come.

I will be moving on to become Chief Education Officer in our academy trust, the Primitas Learning Partnership, so will still be involved with the school and my ties and responsibilities will not be cut entirely.

The school governors will be looking to recruit a new Headteacher next term – it is a wonderful job so I am confident there will be no shortage of excellent applicants – and I am sure the school will only become more successful.

There is a wonderful staffing team at the school, we are lucky to have them, and I know your full backing through this transition will be in everyone’s best interests.

Many thanks for your support over the years, it has been a pleasure to work with you and your children. I’ll no doubt see many of you again in my new role – but for now let’s crack on with next term.

Matt Allman, Headteacher, added: “Certainly nothing changes for the new term, and standards will not drop beyond that, and we’ll still be expecting the best of everyone as usual. A long summer awaits, Results Days to bring success to many, and then back to business in September for everyone.”