Toby Young’s free school loses another headteacher

Turnover: Toby Young is seeking a third headteacher for his free school (Picture: Rex)

8 May 2014

The flagship free school set up by journalist Toby Young is advertising for its third headteacher in three years.

Sam Naismith, current head of the West London Free School in Hammersmith, is stepping down after just over a year in the post.

It follows the departure of previous headteacher Thomas Packer, who was at the school for two years.

One commenter on Twitter said: “If my children’s school needed a third head in three years, I’d probably send my children elsewhere. As indeed some WLFS parents are doing.”

The WLFS was the first secondary free school in London when it launched in 2011 and is seen as a flagship. It describes itself as one of the most popular schools in the country, with 10 applicants for every place.

It is advertising for a new headteacher in the Times Educational Supplement. The school is seeking a candidate to “be the public face of one of the country’s leading free schools” and is offering a salary “to attract the best”.

The job advert said the school’s motto Dare To Learn “will apply to the head as well as the pupils”.

The school is also advertising for a science teacher and a classics teacher and the WLFS primary school is also advertising for an assistant headteacher and a reception class teacher.

One mother wrote on Mumsnet: “The staff turnover is very high. I’m rather astonished at the rate teachers come and go. Should I be more patient with this rather new school and new concept which I initially was very supportive of? Little red flags are waving and I am trying to ignore them.”

Mr Young declined to comment.

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