Dorchester Learning Centre have announced that Head Teacher, Katherine Seymour, will be leaving the Monkton Park school in the summer and will be succeeded by her current deputy Phil Midworth.

The outgoing Head, who recently welcomed an Ofsted inspection that saw the school retain it’s “Good” status, believes the school is in very safe hands when Phil Midworth takes charge formally in September.

She said: “I am really pleased to announce that my successor will be Phil and so the centre will have continuity going forward and, hopefully, continued success.

"I’m very proud of the efforts of all staff, students and families who have supported us to create a formidable, new Learning Centre. We couldn’t do this without the full support of the community.”

Chair of Governors, Peter Thorne, said: “Katherine will continue to lead DLC with her customary care and wisdom in the short term but the appointment of Phil as our new Head shortly after such a positive Ofsted visit is great news and we are all confident that we will have made further substantial progress to becoming an Outstanding Leaning Centre ahead of our next inspection.

"I am looking forward to an exciting future and I'm just looking to continue the good work that has been completed here before. Katherine has left a solid platform to build a bright, new era for the Centre."

An inspector from Ofsted carried out a sort inspection of the school on February 26 and concluded that there was no change to the school’s overall effectiveness grade of "Good" which is a hallmark it has upheld since 2006.

The Ofsted report said: "The culture of safeguarding is strong – the safety and security of pupils are at the heart of your actions. Furthermore, pupils feel safe and that any bullying issues, should they occur, are resolved quickly and effectively.”

The Learning Centre only moved premises last summer from the Old Rectory building at Monkton Park to the former Penwithen School site next door, and the transition to a much larger purpose-built location has been very successful in providing even better learning experiences for students.