A FORMER student has gone back to school to take up his position as headteacher in the place where he completed his teacher training.

Adam Palmer studied at Dyke House Academy in Hartlepool, where he completed his training in 2004. He was already working at the school when it converted to a Northern Education Trust academy in 2013.

The talented tutor began his career as a PE teacher before moving on to assistant head of year, head of year, assistant principal, vice principal and then acting principal, a role he took up in September 2017. Mr Palmer is now permanent principal at the academy.

He said: “When I began as acting principal, the school was already in a good place but since then, we have implemented the trust Northern model of school improvement which ensures even the most vulnerable student is given the support and encouragement they need to reach their potential.

“As a former Dyke House student, I feel honoured to be part of this journey of improvement and to be in a position to make a real difference to the life chances of students and the aspirations of our community.”