THE headteacher of Clevedon School has been selected for a top role supporting schools in challenging circumstances.

John Wells is one of 125 heads to be appointed to the role of National Leader of Education (NLE) in the latest recruitment round by the Government agency, the National College for Teaching and Leadership.

NLEs are tasked with using their success as school leaders, along with the staff in their school – designated as a national support school – to provide additional leadership skills to struggling schools or those in transition to federation or academy status.

The type of support given is flexible and can see NLEs becoming acting or executive headteacher of the client school.

Mr Wells said: “This is a great honour for Clevedon School and recognition of the improvements we have made over the past five years in putting student achievement at the centre of everything we do.

“Achieving the role of NLE is a major step forward and will enable us to drive further improvements both within our school and elsewhere.”