Former Clevedon School teacher takes top job at Nailsea School

Newly appointed head teacher Chris Wade is taking over the helm of Nailsea School from David New this summer.

Mr Wade who lives in Portishead and is in his early 40s is currently head of secondary at Bridgwater College Academy.

The Bridgwater College Academy has students aged three up to 16.

The former Royal Navy marine engineer is a veteran of the Falklands.

He gained a BSc (Hons) in sport and physical education and a post graduate in physical education from the University of Wales Institute at Cardiff.  

He has taught in three schools in the south west since 2001.

This includes head of year at St Katherine's School, Pill, from September to August 2003-2006 and head of house at Clevedon School from September to August 2006-2010.

Mr Wade is married and has two children but in his spare time is helmsman on the Portishead lifeboat and rugby coach with Gordano RFC. 

His profile says he  enjoys all sports but in particular skiing, surfing and running.

A statement from Nailsea School governors said: "Mr Wade made an exceptionally positive impression on all the many people, governors, staff and students alike, involved in the interview process. 

"He will be a worthy successor, able to build on Mr New's many achievements and take the school forward in our core purpose of providing the best possible education for the young people of Nailsea and our surrounding area."

Rumours earlier in the day were circulating that Clevedon School head teacher John Wells was the front runner but it was only a Chinese whispers.

Eighteen people have applied for the £80K per annum top job at Nailsea School .

The closing date for applications was on the Tuesday of half term.

Mr New said: "We had some wonderful applicants who were put through a robust and challenging interview process.

"Any of the final three would have made a great head teacher for Nailsea School.

Head of governors Sally-Ann Hancock said: "We've had 18 applications and I was really impressed with the quality."

The Times education supplement had advertised nearly half a dozen headships in the West Country including the Nailsea School vacancy.

The Nailsea comprehensive missed out on the top Ofsted rating from its past two inspections and its job spec asks: "Are you the one to take us from 'good' to 'outstanding'?" 

It also asked for numerous qualities ranging from 'highly motivated' to 'enthusiastic' saying it wanted an 'effective, dynamic and inspirational leader who will work with students, parents, staff, governors and the local community to achieve excellent standards in all areas'.

After eight years at the school Mr New shocked the community when he announced his resignation in December last year.

Mr New, aged 57, will officially stay in charge of the 1,300-pupil school until August 31.

Mr New said he was leaving to 'seek new life challenges' one of which includes working with Ofsted.

He has been head teacher at Nailsea School since 2004 and has been teaching for 32 years.

During his time at the helm the secondary has seen some of its best A-level and GCSE results.

Mr New has also overseen the development of a new £32 million school funded by the Department for Education and Skills (DfES) and in August it took on academy status.

Nailsea School which has technology and media arts college status opened in 1959 as a grammar school with 90 pupils.

It became a comprehensive school in 1966 catering for pupils aged from 11 to 18 years.

The school has 137 teaching and ancillary staff and an annual budget of £5.5 million.