'Exceptional leader' Familiar face takes charge of secondary school

A SCHOOL once dubbed the worst in Bristol has undergone a remarkable transformation in the past 18 months, and it now has a new headteacher. Katy Reeves is taking charge at Merchants' Academy secondary school in Withywood.

- Tristan CORK

Ms Reeves has been at the school for ten years, and was previously the head of Spanish and an assistant headteacher. She will oversee the secondary school part of Merchants' Academy, while her predecessor Guy Swallow, who led the school’s turnaround, has been promoted to become executive head.

Ms Reeves will be the fifth permanent headteacher at Merchants’ Academy in the space of less than four years, but this time, the school is in a much better place.

“I’m truly honoured to take on this role and lead the secondary phase of Merchants’ Academy,” she said. “Over the past ten years, I've seen firsthand the dedication of our staff and the potential of our students.