Ashby School has a new Head Teacher in Dr Jude Mellor who was appointed last month.

Dr Mellor has joined the Life Multi-Academy Trust - and says she has come to Ashby at a time of 'such an opportunistic time of innovation'.

She added: "I am delighted that this journey has led me to be appointed Headteacher of Ashby School at such an opportunistic time of innovation as the school moves towards age range change and prepares to welcome our first ever Year 7s in August 2022.

"I am hugely excited at the challenge and potential this brings me personally as the next stage in my own learning journey, whilst also believing passionately in the potential for such innovation to improve even further the education provision for the young people of the town.

"Education is an amazing profession to work in; I love the challenge, the pace, the power to make a difference and, most importantly, the opportunity to be a learner.

"I also know that working in education needs balance; and travel, sport and the rolling hills shared with family and friends provide that for me. I am immensely grateful for it all."

Dr Mellor also explained her background in teaching.

She said: "Having grown up and been educated in Sheffield, I moved to Leicester to attend university, completing a BSc in Combined Sciences; a modular degree encompassing Geography, Geology, Archaeology & Computing and feeding my love of inter-disciplinary study.

"It was this, alongside my love of the hills that led me to be a Geography teacher and I completed my PGCE, also at Leicester University, in 1998.

"My early career saw me teaching in Warwick, Leicester and Coventry alongside furthering my education through the completion of an MSc in Educational Leadership, an NPQSL and growing my own leadership pathway through departmental, faculty and then whole school leadership across a range of schools, subjects and key stages.

"In 2010, by then a mum of two small children, I started my first full senior leadership role as Assistant Headteacher for teaching and learning in an 11-16 Leicester school.

"In 2016 I moved 'across town' to be Deputy Headteacher at a contrasting school allowing me the opportunity to take my own learning and leadership journey to another level and explore with more depth varied educational contexts.

"My five years as Deputy and then Senior Deputy have been instrumental in leading me to Headship and I am immensely grateful for the opportunities they, and the remarkable leaders I have been privileged to work with and for, have provided me with."

In a letter to parents, Dr Mellor also outlined the continuing Covid protocols at Ashby School.

She wrote: "We are continuing with some measures to minimise any Covid transmission such as having sanitiser available in rooms and asking students to wear masks where staff are vulnerable.

"This also means that students who work in close proximity to staff, for example during 1 to 1 support may also ask staff to wear masks if they wish.

"We are also continuing to limit visitors to our site to help reduce the risk of transmission, so please continue to use our email address or phone number to get in touch with us or to make an appointment to see someone.

"To this end, we will also continue with some of our events virtually alongside holding some events face-to-face.

"We will also continue to communicate using email, so if there are any changes to your contact details, please do let us know so we can update our records."