Simon Sharples will step down as head teacher of Sandwich Technology School at the end of the academic year after describing 15 months of external pressure. He said the pressure had had a significant impact on his family and him, and that he made the decision shortly before half-term but waited to announce it while dealing with legal matters.
In a letter sent to parents on June 19, Sharples wrote: "I want to be very clear that my decision has nothing to do with the proposed plans to join Barton Court Academy Trust." He also said: "The external pressure has built over the last 15 months and has had a significant impact on my family and me."
Sandwich Technology School in January
Sharples joined Sandwich Technology School in January last year. The school was placed in special measures in May 2024 after an Ofsted rating of inadequate, with inspectors saying fights, bullying and truancy were rife at the school. Later monitoring visits recorded significant improvements, including better behaviour and fewer children skipping lessons.
The latest visit said fighting is now rare and is dealt with swiftly if it occurs. Inspectors also said students feel safe in school and have faith that issues are dealt with more consistently.
Department for Education proposal
Last month, the Department for Education put forward a proposal to transfer the secondary to the Barton Court Academy Trust. Sharples said the sequence of that public proposal and a full Ofsted inspection was a factor in his decision, writing: "However, in my opinion, it was highly irregular that a full Ofsted inspection was scheduled the next working day after a proposal for the school to join a Multi Academy Trust (MAT) was made public,"
He added: "The sequencing of these two events on top of the external pressure I had experienced over the previous year triggered my decision to step down."
Barton Court Academy Trust plans
Sharples said an executive head teacher from the trust is already working at the school and that a head of school will be in place for September. He told parents: "Having seen the work completed already and the plans for the future, I know the school is in very safe hands and standards are going to improve rapidly."
He also wrote: "I look forward to giving my all to the school over the final few weeks of the academic year." Sharples added that he had enjoyed working with parents and would look back on his time there positively, while regretting that he could not stay longer and fulfil his ambitions for the school.
