New Chesterfield headteacher vows to do everything to help pupils achieve ambitions

Ben Riggot has taken over the reigns at Parkside Community School on a permanent basis after an interim period.

Mr Riggott says he wants to a create a culture at the school which allows everyone to thrive and improve.

“The reality is that any organisation needs to develop people in order to be successful,” Mr Riggott said.

“The success of the school depends on the effort by every single member of the school community.”

Mr Riggott has worked his way up the education ladder from Littleover Community School in Derby and Ashfield School in Nottinghamshire to Highfield School in Matlock.

He was initially headteacher at Parkside on an interim basis, before taking over the role permanently on October 1.

Mr Riggott said that he is very much looking forward to the challenge ahead and that the school had done lots of good work over the last few years.

One of the main things that is currently being reviewed is the school curriculum, with pupils, teachers, parents and governors all asked for their views - but they won’t be rushing into any decisions.

“School has such a big impact on people’s lives so it is only right that people who have a stake in it have a say in what we are trying to achieve,” he told the Derbyshire Times.

He also said that his focus will be on values, integrity and belief in the power of education to improve people’s lives.

He added that learning will be at the heart of everything they do, that he wants to create a culture at the school where everyone plays their part to help others improve and to work in partnership with people who feel they can contribute in any way.

Like many other schools, a major challenge will be that of finances, which Mr Riggott says he is ‘very mindful’ of, as well preparing for the new GCSE exams.

“It feels like a really good fit here at Parkside Community School,” he added.