THE headteacher of Hornsey School for Girls is to step down in April

Charlotte Newton

THE headteacher of Hornsey School for Girls is to step down in April.

Andy Yarrow took up the post at the Inderwick Road secondary almost four years ago and has been widely credited with raising standards.

The unusually large school - there are 1,477 pupils - has GCSE results above the national average, with 50 per cent of pupils achieving five grades A*to C, including English and maths last summer.

In the most recent Ofsted report last May, inspectors praised the school for being "an outstanding place to be".

They also singled out Mr Yarrow, saying: "The headteacher has used his exceptional talents to build a leadership team of highly motivated individuals who are constantly striving for excellence.

"The track record of improvement over the last three years is outstanding, demonstrating that there is an excellent capacity to improve further."

Mr Yarrow, 39, is leaving to take over the new Chelsea Academy which will open in September 2009.

He said: "My time at Hornsey has been exceptionally rewarding and I am delighted that the school has achieved so much.

"I have learned much from working in Haringey.

"I am also very pleased to be handing over to an accomplished headteacher, Carol Jones, who is a strong advocate of single sex education for girls.

"I am confident that she will continue to develop and improve the school. I would also like to thank the staff, governors, parents and students for all their support over the past four years and extend my very best wishes for the future."

Ms Jones is currently the head at Fulham Cross - a successful girls' school in West London and has been a deputy head in two girls' schools before.

She began her teaching career in Tottenham in the 1980s and moved to St Katherine's & St David's which re-opened in 2002 as Greig City Academy. She then worked as a youth and community worker at Jackson's Lane Community Centre. She has also been an education officer for Islington Local Education Authority.

She said: "I'm really looking forward to taking up the headship at Hornsey School for Girls, working with the school and its community to build on the school's outstanding success."

Hornsey Lib Dem Councillor Monica Whyte, said: "I don't know Ms Jones personally but I'm confident that having a female headteacher at Hornsey School for Girls will provide an inspirational role model for the girls."

Head of governors Karen Christie said: "We are very pleased to have Ms Jones joining us at Hornsey for the start of the summer term and look forward to working with her in leading the school on to further success.

"Our current headteacher Andy Yarrow moves to another headship in the summer. His commitment shown to Hornsey, his hard work and energy is very much appreciated."

broadway@hamhigh.co.uk