Brighton headteacher to join Ofsted

Dylan Davies joined BACA in January 2014 but announced in a letter sent out yesterday (January 9) that he was taking on the new job with Ofsted.

Mr Davies said: “I am very proud of all we have worked on together, the academic achievements of our students, Ofsted’s recognition that the care, guidance and support for our students’ well-being and safety is outstanding, and the innovative partnerships with employers that we have developed.

“These partnerships have been driven by the very powerful vision to create opportunities for all our students to ‘believe they can’. I truly believe we have together produced something very special.”

Jim May, chair of governors, said: “We are very sad to be losing Dylan but recognise that his new role is a significant career opportunity for him. When Dylan joined four years ago our roll was 557 students. This September it was 886 with further growth next year at both secondary and sixth-form level.

“Building on our ‘good’ Ofsted rating last year this degree of growth in student numbers is testimony to the leadership of Dylan and the academy’s senior leadership team, and the hard work of our staff. On behalf of the governing body and our Trust I would like to thank Dylan for his contribution to those achievements.

“Plans are already in hand to identify Dylan’s replacement as principal. The governors are working with Aldridge Education and our local executive principal, Rob Reed, to secure strong leadership for the school to succeed Dylan and lead BACA to being recognised as outstanding in future.”

Mr Davies said: “I am sure the new principal will see the amazing opportunities we have developed to improve the life chances of all the young people at BACA and I will look forward to following the future success of this truly innovative school community.”