TROUBLED Headlands School is to have its own full-time headteacher.

Current head Nicky Barton is also deputy head at Kingsdown School under a federation agreement between the two schools.

But the responsibilities of two jobs meant she was not always at the Headlands site.

The education authority has decided to recruit a new headteacher who will be in post by September.

Lead member for education Garry Perkins said: "The situation requires a full-time head at the site.

"Nicky Barton has told staff of her decision and a letter will be going out to parents. The amount of time required for both jobs meant it was impossible to be committed to Headlands and Kingsdown.

"Students were unsettled and parents were concerned about the number of temporary teachers being used.

"We listened to what they said and action has been taken."

The school was placed under new management as part of the Govern-ment's Fresh Start Initiative because of prolonged poor performance. Ofsted inspectors had put the school into special measures in late 2002, amid concerns over the standard of education.

Staff were invited to reapply for their own jobs and many left.

Now, all but six of the 30 vacancies at the school have been filled after an aggressive recruitment drive. David Williams will still be executive headteacher at both schools but a new headteacher will devote his or her time to the day to day running of Headlands.

Pupils staged a walkout on May 17 to protest about teaching standards and rapid changes have been made since. However, there are concerns that bringing in so many new staff could disrupt students' education.

One teacher, who wished to remain anonymous, said: "Experi-enced, well-loved and able teachers have lost their jobs for no sound reason. The decision seems to be random.

"The kids are going to be devastated and I think a storm is brewing. The problems are not going to go away because they managed to fill the vacancies."

Nicky Barton was unavailable for comment

Bhavani Vadde