Announcement from Richard Arrowsmith

In a letter to all parents, Richard Arrowsmith has announced that he intends to retire as Head of Grove next Summer after nine years in the post.

Since his appointment in 1997, when he succeeded Geoff Dickinson who had previously been head for 25 years, he has led the school forward with a wide range of initiatives.  These have seen the introduction of the Opening Minds curriculum in Key Stage 3 with its emphasis on students developing the skills, or competences, needed for them to be successful citizens and learners. In Key Stage 4 there has a huge expansion of the range of options available to students in particular opening up vocational opportunities for students to follow alongside more traditional subjects.

These changes were well ahead of the national move towards a wider choice at 14 and our current curriculum offer has been featured in the national press and on Teachers'  TV as an outstanding example of flexibility and involvement with local colleges and the business community.

Richard led the successful bid for Grove to become the only specialist Language College in Shropshire - a status that brings many benefits to the school and community, not only in terms of language teaching but also enrichment through international links, .

During his time he has also made significant changes to the pastoral care provision in school.  strong links have been forged with Connexions, we have the services of a Barnardos Family Worker and Grove Connex, led by Jenny Horner MBE is seen as a model of outstanding good practice, with involvement and support from many members of the local community.  He has also introduced a House system with mixed-age tutor groups.

The Governors have begun the process of advertising for a successor and hope to make an appointment early in the New Year.