A NEW headteacher has already started at The Hereford Academy following the former principal’s resignation last week.

The academy announced last Thursday that John Shepperd had stepped down as headteacher of the South Wye school.

And today in a joint statement, the Bishop Anthony Education Trust and The Hereford Academy Governing Body said that they were delighted to announce the appointment of Patrick Ottley-O’Connor as the new principal, who started the job yesterday.

On his Twitter page Mr Ottley-O'Connor said: "Going into an academy as Interim Principal until July 2016. I work predominantly with schools in challenging contexts."

He will work in partnership with Tracey Kneale (national leader of education) and Marlbrook Primary School (national support and teaching school).

The statement said Mr Ottley-O’Connor had considerable experience in leading secondary schools and had recently worked with E-ACT, a leading, independent academy sponsor who manages, maintains and develops academies, and led West Walsall Academy.

He is also a leadership development adviser for The Future Leaders Trust, a UK charity providing headteacher training and school leadership development for middle and senior leaders.

The Bishop Anthony Education Trust said: “We welcome Patrick as a key member of the academy and the local community. “The education of the children in the South Wye community is of paramount importance to both the governors and the trust and we are really looking forward to working with Patrick in his new post.”