School poacher turns gamekeeper

ASK most teachers what they think of school inspectors and the response will not be complimentary.

Sure, they can tell others how to run a school. But could they do it themselves? Mike Mackay, who has spent five years inspecting other people's schools after turning his back on a teaching career, is about to find out.

In March, he led the team that inspected Eldon Infants School in Enfield. He fell in love with it and, next month, takes over as head.

"I said when I was inspecting the school that if ever I was to be tempted back into teaching, this would be the school," he said. "But at that stage I didn't plan to do anything about it."

He knew the existing head, Muriel Robinson, was about to retire. But it was only when the school's governors had to advertise three times for a successor that he decided to throw his hat into the ring.

"I know it is very hard for schools to recruit in London but it seemed a shame that such a lovely school wasn't able to find anybody," Mr Mackay said.

The inspection report marked a milestone for the school, recognising sufficient improvement in standards to remove it from the list of those with "serious weaknesses". Mr Mackay added: "What impressed us most was the children's enthusiasm for learning and their very good behaviour."

This was illustrated one day when the inspection team held a meeting next to the school hall.

Mr Mackay said: "We didn't know it but all the children were in the hall working and we didn't hear a word."

During his time as an inspector, Mr Mackay said he became frustrated at identifying what needed to be done to improve schools, and then having to walk away. He said: "I was often tempted to stay a bit longer and help the teachers put their action plan into practice. Now, that's just what I'm going to have to do."

Mr Mackay said he looked forward to the challenges posed by Eldon Infants School. Nearly half the children come from ethnic minorities and 14 different languages are spoken - including three from Africa that he has not even heard of.