Chiswick School Head Steps Down Suddenly

Tony Ryan decides to leave for 'professional and personal reasons'

The headteacher of Chiswick School, Tony Ryan, has stepped down after over six years in the role. A letter from the Governors to parents and guardians states that he has made the decision for ‘professional and personal reasons.’

He is to be replaced on an interim basis by Jill Coughlan CBE who has already started work in the role. She was given the CBE for her work in education in Islington and most recently was interim Headteacher of the Green School in Isleworth and the Chief Executive of the Green School Trust. She will remain headteacher for the rest of the school year with a new permanent headteacher to be appointed in September 2017.

In the letter Nicholas Lee, chair of the Board of Governors states, “I am delighted with this appointment as Mrs Coughlan is a highly regarded education specialist with an outstanding record in delivering sustainable school improvement in a number of schools.”

Tony Ryan oversaw the conversion of the school into an academy. In November 2015 the school was downgraded by OFSTED from its previous ‘Good’ to requires improvement, a decision which Mr Ryan described at the time as ‘very harsh’. Mr Lee states that progress has been made addressing the issues identified in the OFSTED report and that there will be further updates in due course.

The letter thanked Mr Ryan for ‘his commitment, hard work and dedication to making the significant changes and improvement we have witnessed over the last 6½ years’.

The change of leadership will have no impact on the ongoing school improvement plans.

January 3, 2017