IT’S all change at Court Fields Community School. Head teacher Elaine Faull steps down at the end of the month and a number of other staff are moving on to pastures new, marking the start of an exciting era at the Wellington school.

Mrs Faull, 55, leaves after 12½ years at the helm to pursue her childhood acting dream at Bristol’s Old Vic Theatre.

She said: “Ever since I was 14 I wanted to be an actress, and because I came from quite a working class family my parents couldn’t always afford to send me to things, so I wasn’t able to fulfil a national theatre plan.

“I feel now’s a good time to leave. If I don’t do it now I’ll never do it.”

From January 1, Court Fields will become an academy, sponsored by The Castle School in Taunton.

Castle head teacher Sarah Watson will become executive head and oversee both schools, while Rachael Bennett will be in charge of day-to-day life at Court Fields.

It is hoped the school can continue to push on in the same way it has since falling into special measures last November.

GCSE maths results are up 20% on this time last year, and OFSTED bosses have recognised vast improvements during several monitoring inspections.

Mrs Faull said: “The partnership means we can learn from them and I’m sure there are things they’ll learn from us.

“I’m hoping that in becoming a sponsored academy we can do something with three areas of the school which I think need support – one is the dining area, one is revamping the toilets and the other is doing something with outdoor seating for students.”

Since going into special measures the school has brought in a data tracking system so staff can monitor each student individually, ensuring that they can pick up on their development at the earliest opportunity.

This is something Mrs Faull feels bodes well for the future.

She said: “I think Sarah will be taking on a school in really good condition.

“We’ve worked hard since we went into special measures. Inspectors have come in twice and each time they’ve been really impressed with how much progress we’re making.

“I’m sure if we were able to have an OFSTED it would confirm that actually we’re well on the way to ‘good’.

“I think in a very short period of time we will be there.”