New Arnewood School head teacher unveiled as Bournemouth School deputy head Jamie Anderson

THE incoming new head teacher of New Milton’s Arnewood School has been revealed as Bournemouth School deputy head Jamie Anderson.

Due to take on the top job at the Gore Road secondary school from January next year, father-of-two Mr Anderson is working with current incumbent Nigel Pressnell to ensure a seamless transition.

Mr Pressnell announced in June that he would be stepping down after seven years in the role that saw the school through major refurbishment and pandemic challenges.

He will become chief executive officer of the Gryphon Multi-Academy Trust, which oversees Arnewood along with Eaglewood School for pupils outside mainstream education.

Last week it was revealed that both schools are in talks to form a new academy trust with Priestlands School in Lymington, Ringwood School and The Burgate School in Fordingbridge.

Mr Anderson, who is a keen sportsman and paddleboarder, shared his delight in becoming Arnewood’s head.

“I have been extremely impressed with the commitment of the school to provide the best experiences and support for students, and see it as a privilege to lead the school into the next phase of its development,” he said.

“More broadly, I believe it is an exciting time for the trust and I look forward to working with Mr Pressnell to partner with other schools and help shape the future of education in our area.”

Mr Pressnell said: “I am delighted we have recruited a first-class school leader in Mr Anderson.

“We had a very strong field in July, and he impressed the appointment panel with his clear vision for taking the school forward and maintaining its excellent provision from Key Stage 3 through to sixth form.”

As reported in the A&T, leaders of the five schools set to form the new multi-academy trust said it would share expertise in a more “cost-effective way”.

A group spokesperson said the move was in line with the government’s announcement earlier this year that every school must be in – or in the process of joining – a trust by 2030.

But local councillors criticised it as being motivated to save money.

Liberal Democrat Cllr Jack Davies, a former governor at Pennington Infant School, said schools were being forced to “club together because of a failure by government to properly fund them”.

It is expected an executive head teacher will be appointed to manage heads at each school.

Multi-academy trusts are funded directly from the Department for Education, and can vary the budget they devolve to each school to address particular needs.