A SPECIALIST boys’ school has appointed a new headteacher who is committed to turning the school around for pupils.

Sarah Gregory, 49, has been appointed headteacher of Aurora Woodlands School, an independent day school in Darwen which provides specialist education and therapeutic provision for boys aged 10 to 19.

Having worked in both the specialist and mainstream education sectors in London and the North West for 27 years, Sarah will now lead 32 staff to deliver the highest quality of education and support to 56 students.

She said: “I’m very much looking forward to leading the Woodlands School family.

“Together, I have no doubt our school will continue to flourish as a safe and happy place, with high aspirations and shared values.”

Her most recent post was as head of Nugent House School in Wigan where she championed and successfully embedded a trauma and attachment-informed approach across the school.

Many of the students who arrive at Woodlands have had negative experiences of school in the past so Sarah says she’s committed to ensuring that their experience at Woodlands will be different as they’ll be valued and heard.

They saw a 100 per cent pass rate in GCSE maths and 91 per cent in GCSE English, with all leavers offered employment or further education placements.