Principal Designate Appointed to New Falmer Academy

Rod Aldridge, Sponsor of the Falmer Academy and Chair of the Aldridge Foundation, is pleased to announce the appointment of Philomena (Phil) Hogg as Principal Designate of Falmer Academy, near Brighton.  She will take up her post as Principal Designate in September 2009 and become Principal when the academy opens in September 2010.

The Academy will replace the existing Falmer High School. It will have the capacity educate 1150 students aged 11-19, provide sixth form education for the first time and will specialise in entrepreneurship and sport.

Phil Hogg is currently the Head Teacher at Woodhouse College in Tamworth, Staffordshire, which has Business and Enterprise as a specialism. The school has an age range of 11-19 and 1,066 on the school roll.  The school's latest Ofsted report in 2008 identified Phil's leadership as 'outstanding'.

The interview panel included representatives from the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF), the Director of Children's Services and the Aldridge Foundation. 

Rod Aldridge said: "Phil has been appointed from an exceptionally strong field of candidates and her selection was unanimous.  We believe that Falmer Academy's staff and students will flourish under the leadership of such a strong and experienced head teacher. 

"I very much look forward to working with her and am confident that she will drive improvements for students and bring considerable benefits to the local community".

Notes to Editor

• The Aldridge Foundation was set up in 2006 by Rod Aldridge and is committed to improving the lives of young people through education and entrepreneurship. It is sponsoring two community academies in Falmer, near Brighton, and Darwen in Lancashire, which are the first academies in the country to specialise in entrepreneurship and sport. www.aldridgefoundation.com
• Woodhouse College has an age range of 11-19 and 1,066 on the school roll. Over the last two years, under Phil Hogg's leadership, A-C grades have moved from 44% to 68% and A-C including English and Maths from 26% to 37%. The quality of teaching and learning has moved from 27% good or better to over 80% good or better in the last 18 months.