Shipston High School sees Headmaster retire

There was barely a dry eye in the school as pupils, staff and governors bid farewell to Jonathan Baker at the end of the summer term. Mr Baker (pictured)was appointed head of the High School in 2004 and has been at the forefront of developments that have seen the school progress significantly. 

Over the last ten years, Shipston High School has improved both in popularity and performance. The school is now so sought after, it is frequently oversubscribed and has increased its intake to accommodate over 450 pupils in recent years. In 2010, the High School was in the top 100 schools in the country for the amount of progress pupils made while at school.

While grades and academic success are important, Mr Baker leaves behind him a legacy which puts the overall wellbeing of children at the heart of the school. A firm believer in the importance of teaching confidence, self-reliance and care for others, Mr Baker has seen the “Shipston Spirit” become a tangible asset, which OFSTED inspectors have highlighted in their reports.

Paul Chapman, Chair of the High School Governors said: “We are sad to see Jonathan leave Shipston High after such a long and successful period as head teacher. On behalf of all the staff and pupils, I would like to thank him for his boundless energy, enthusiasm and determination to see the school and each individual pupil achieve their best. We wish him a happy and healthy retirement.”

Before retiring, Mr Baker worked with the governors to find an outstanding new head teacher. From September, Gavin Saunders will take up the reins and is looking forward to getting started.