TEACHERS and a governor have spoken out in support of Headlands School headteacher John Wells after the school was taken over by Swindon Local Education Authority.

The Cricklade Road secondary school is bottom of the league table, but GCSE results have risen by a third in his two year period in charge.

Mr Wells has not been sacked by the council but will no longer be responsible for recruiting staff or financial matters at the school.

More than a dozen Head-lands School teachers and the governor of one of its feeder primary schools have contacted the Evening Advertiser to offer their support to Mr Wells, who they all say he is the man to lead the school out of the special measures.

At a meeting with staff director of education Hilary Pitts refused to confirm that Mr Wells will still be headteacher in September.

Director of humanities Ian Howard, 39, pictured, who has taught at Headlands for 15 years said: "I have served under three heads and John Wells is by far the best.

"The success we are having with year seven and eight will take time to be reflected in our GCSEs, but our SATS results for year nine pupils went up by 10 per cent in some subjects."

Commonweal School headteacher Keith Defter, who is chairman of the Swindon Association of Primary Heads, gave Mr Wells his support in Thursday's paper, saying he had done all that could be expected of him.

Penhill Primary head Linda Rankin said Mr Wells has the full support of the catchment area primary heads.

Freda Milne, 54, is chairwoman of Penhill Primary School's governors, which is one of Headlands' feeder schools.

She said: "I have worked with John closely for some years, he was a governor at our school when we went into special measures and his support was invaluable.

"We have immense admiration for him and it will take time but his leadership vision and managerial skills will see Headlands through."

Headlands is Mr Wells first headship and he has been at the school for two years.

Headlands School head of art Linda Gatehouse, 39, has taught at the school for two years and says it has made strides forward under his control. "In the two years I have been here there has been a massive improvement," she said.

Teacher governor Rose-mary Crayford, who has been at the school for 21 years, said: "All of the staff and governors fully support John and his action plan for improving the school.