The new executive headteacher of both of Witham’s academies has pledged to offer more GCSE subjects to create two “outstanding” schools.

Academies Enterprise Trust, which owns Maltings Academy and New Rickstones Academy, appointed John Szynal as executive headteacher across both sites after plans to merge the two schools were axed.

Instead, the schools will remain separate but the senior leadership team is currently being amalgamated, which has led to Trenica King, headteacher at New Rickstones, stepping down.

As part of the leadership team restructure, the trust also announced that 13 non-teaching posts at New Rickstones will be axed.

Mr Szynal, who is current headteacher at Maltings Academy, said that the money saved from the human resources roles will be spent in improving curriculum choices at New Rickstones.

See the Witham Times for the full story.