AS 2009 draws to a close, CLAIRE HACK speaks to newly appointed Walthamstow Academy principal Emma Skae on the last 12 months at the school.

WALTHAMSTOW Academy has faced a turbulent year with the sudden departure of previous head Fiona Cordeaux and was without a permanent principal until November.

But Emma Skae, who joined the school as deputy principal in January and was acting principal following Mrs Cordeaux's departure, says this year has been a very successful one for the school.

Ms Skae said: “My first impression of the school was that the children are absolutely fantastic.

“They're extremely polite, well-behaved, enthusiastic and passionate – they're just amazing.”

She added that she had also been impressed with the level of efficiency of the staff.

Ms Skae said: “My breath was immediately taken away by how fast a turnaround there is with everything.

“I'd ask for something and people came back to me in five minutes.”

The academy also enjoyed a record year for GCSE results, with 69 per cent of pupils achieving five A* to C grades – a leap of 15 per cent on the year before.

“Our targets are 40 per cent five A* to C grades including English and maths and 70 per cent five A* to C grades,” Ms Skae said.

She has also taken the step of employing a member of staff specifically focussed on inclusion and intervention, to make sure pupils are not left behind if they struggle in a particular subject.

Ms Skae, 36, is also juggling a busy home life, with two children under four and said one of the challenges she faced was maintaining a work/life balance.

She added: “I don't think I've faced any real difficulties that are different to those faced by other heads.

“Starting in March as acting head, I'd already had six months' experience so I knew I wanted the job and that I was able to do it.”

She is now looking ahead to 2010, having filled all 180 places in Year Seven for the first time, and is hoping to expand the school's nascent Sixth Form, as well as offering new career opportunities to staff.

Ms Skae said: “I'm going to be doing a leaders' programme for the middle leadership team – it's for people who want to be assistant heads in the near future.”

The Sixth Form currently has 100 pupils, with space for 250, and Ms Skae is hoping to fill these places, as well as planning for a 100 per cent A Level pass rate in 2010.