As a parent of a child at Fairlawn I am saddened to hear today that Robin Bosher has resigned from Fairlawn, and indeed the Federation comprising also Heseltine and Kilmorie, and will leave just before the Easter holidays to take up a new post with the Harris Federation.

He has been a force to be reckoned with in education circles for many years. Even before we had children I had heard of the wonderful Robin Bosher from local parents!

I think he has done Forest Hill children proud for many years and hopefully he will continue to cast his magic elsewhere for years to come. Our loss and definitely their gain. Best wishes to him.

This post was last modified: 27-01-2012 08:40 PM by roz.

Yes as a new Fairlawn parent I'm a bit gutted. Will the magic remain when he's gone?

Fairlawn had a great reputation 30 years ago, I expect it will still have an excellent reputation in another 30 years. The best headteachers may be able to turn around failing schools but it is much harder to 'turn around' a successful school.

Would I be right to assume that Bosher will be running the new 'free school'?
Will free schools eventually take all the best teachers in the state system?

No, I dont think its a headship post - Director of Primary Education at the Harris Federation itself rather than a school. Personally I think someone like that is wasted in a role like that but its clearly a personal decision and we can't have the best years of someones lives for ever nor can we expect any such person to devote themselves entirely and selflessly to others needs. Sometimes you have to look after yourself in this world and move on to other challenges.

The Harris Federation would love to get control of Fairlawn imo, and I think it will happen soon, now that Robin Bosher has seemingly endorsed their organisation.
But to be fair, it was only a matter time.

I'm not a fan of privatisation and can only hope Mr Bosher can help keep the Harris Federation focused on their core responsibilities to the children.

Well, thats something I was thinking myself, and wondering whether this was part of some agenda. As a parent I would be strongly opposing such a move towards making Fairlawn an academy and least of all, an Allied Carpets academy. The school has thrived under local authority care and see no reason why it should change. The rate of primary school academy conversions has slowed down from what I understand.

However, no one has mentioned this to the parents so I can assume it is only part of the speculative picture that I'm sure will blossom until the hard facts become known.

45% of all state maintained secondary schools are now academies or about to convert.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2012...revolution

Labour introduced the process, the Tories have massively expanded the programme including the schools that are performing well , and the libdems have driven another bus through their worthless manifesto.
It is not going away.

Primary schools are unlikely to escape, so if you are a senior chap, then you either get on board or you'll get run over.

That's my view, but I have no inside knowledge.
Good luck to Mr Bosher, by the way.

You only have to look at the mish mash of nursery provision to see where academies are heading.

From what I understand Robin was head hunted by Harris and I know he's been looking for a senior position for a while now so it was only a matter of time before he would move on. All the best Robin.

Does anyone know if someone's lined up to replace him?

Not to the best of my knowledge however there is still a Head of School in post. We await an update next week!

Best of luck to Mr Bosher who left Fairlawn today.

Was all tears from the kids at Fairlawn this afternoon because Mr Bosher was leaving. He was an amazing Head Teacher and I wish him all the best for the future. I had my daughter at the school when she started and my son when he left, they both loved him as a head teacher.
All the best Robin. You will be missed.

Miss Christian is acting head at moment I think

Top bloke, I wish him well. (Fairlawn parent 98-04, Fairlawn Pupil 64-70)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dvl-jRec8lg

New exec head appointed for the Fairlawn/Hasetine/Kilmorie Federation, Mark Wilson from Robin Hood Primary in Wakefield. He is apparently a hot shot in ICT and well renowned nationally for leadership. Welcome to South London, Mark!

Oh, and shortlisted for the TES Headteacher of the Year to be announced in July. Not a lot going on then, Mark!

I notice Ms Christian is now on the Fairlawn letterhead as the new headteacher. Is she in a locum position while the governors advertise for the new local Fairlawn head or has she been promoted? Very poor communication from the school / governors either way.

I didn't think her position had changed? She's been actual head of school for a while and remains so.

Robin Bosher is now Sir Robin Bosher

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-18459553

Good luck to him but Im surprised at the knighthood rather than an OBE/MBE etc as it does seem rather unusual? Hes not exactly at the end of his career either. Also surprised to hear Lord Harris state his impact on Harris Federation. However hes only been in the job for a few months but the suggestion seems to be he's been doing it for longer ie whilst he was still in the headteacher post. Again that could have been my reading things wrongly but thats a little concerning if that was the case.

A cynic might suggest that the government was extra keen to draw attention to those promoters of its academy programme. But of course that wouldnt be me.