"I'M not going anywhere" is the defiant message from the head of a troubled Burnley school who says she is determined to turn its fortunes around.

In an exclusive interview, Gill Broom said she had no intention of leaving Hameldon Community College after an incident which saw two students attacked with a baseball bat, and is committed to doing everything she can to move the school forward.

Hameldon is one of five schools opened in Burnley as part of the £250million Building Schools for the Future scheme.

It merged Ivy Bank and Habergham High Schools, which had a history of rivalry at a split site in Byron Street.

A problematic first term saw it placed in special measures by Ofsted last March, but since then Hameldon had been enjoying a period of calm and an inspection in October found it was making good progress.

But on December 14, two white teenagers allegedly went into the school and hit an Asian pupil with a baseball bat, before a Asian second pupil was punched.

The incident, which was described by police as racist although racism was not the motivation, prompted fresh criticism from parents and the community about the school and its head, and attendance in the final days of last term dropped to less than a quarter.

But Ms Broom is standing firm and has appealed to the community to "work together".

"I am employed to lead and manage Hameldon Community College as its headteacher," said Ms Broom.

"I am committed to the post and doing everything I can to move the school forward. Ofsted has said that the headteacher provides strong leadership and a clear vision for the school.

"At the end of the day I am employed to lead and manage the school and if I had been found wanting then I wouldn't be here."

She added: "I am committed to Lancashire, and having taught in Burnley for the last 11 years, I am committed to the town's young people. I have not thought of resigning, I'm here to do a job."

She insisted the education authority had provided "professional support" for the problems the school faces, and said backing from parents and the community was the only way the school will "get back on track".

Ms Broom said: "The greatest wish of every member of staff is for everybody to work together to move forward and get the best for our students.

"We know that there are things we need to improve, but I want Hameldon to be a school students are proud to be part of, and everyone needs to work together on that."

County Coun Marcus Johnstone, cabinet member for education at the county council, said they would work together who Ms Broom and her leadership team.

He said: "Our overriding consideration is the young people of Burnley.

"They only have one chance of an education and it is the duty of all of us to ensure that that education is best which can be achieved."

  • Click on the link below for the full Q&A with Gill Broom.