THE new head teacher of Robert Blake Science College says he has joined a school very much “on the up”.

Rob Gammon, who replaced Ann Winter as head teacher at the start of the autumn term, says he has been delighted by the welcome he has received.

Speaking to the Mercury, he said: “I've really enjoyed my first month here.

“What I've been really pleased about is the way the students, staff and the community have welcomed me here.

“It's a really exciting time for the school.

“It's made tremendous gains over the past few years.”

Robert Blake was rebuilt this time last year - and was one of the last schools to get such a major investment under the Building Schools for the Future programme following the change in Government in 2010 - the new facilities will be shown off at an official opening on October 24.

However, although he said the multimillion pound facilities had created an exciting opportunity for staff and students, Mr Gammon said the bright new building was far from the only thing that interested him about Robert Blake.

He said: “It's an inclusive school - that's a big pull for me, knowing you are dealing with students from every cross-section of society.

“I also saw it as very much a school that was on the up, at a changing point with a new facility.

“I've been very keen to stress to parents that you have to look beyond the building, to the value and ethos of the school.

“Our ethos is about inclusiveness and the philosophy that we want to get it right for every child.”

Mr Gammon also said he was keen to ensure that exciting practical opportunities for students were not sacrificed in a chase for a higher place in school league tables.

He added: “Outcomes are really important but if you take care of the day-to-day things, outcomes will take care of themselves.

“We are talking about growing people, rather than an exams factory.”

The official opening of Robert Blake Science College and Elmwood School will include tours of the school from 9.30am, coffee and pastries from 10.20am to 10.50am, and the opening itself, with speeches from students and former head teacher Ann Winter, at 10.50am.