A PROBLEM-plagued Worcester school has been given an 18-month timetable to get back on its feet.

Following a meeting, it has been announced the federation between Elgar Technology College and Baxter College in Kidderminster is expected to last between 12 and 18 months.

The Worcester News revealed last month that David Seddon, head of Baxter College, had been appointed executive headteacher of both schools.

It is hoped that Mr Seddon, who has been credited with transforming Baxter and getting it out of special measures in just nine months, will do the same at the Bilford Road school.

After the meeting, Gill Hellings, chairwoman of governors, said: "The main priority is to get the school out of special measures and appoint a substantive headteacher in time for January.

"We are looking for a visionary person who is an exceptional leader with a proven track record of working with schools in challenging circumstances.

"Everyone wants to create a sustainable future for the school so that it continues to improve."

The change follows the departure of David Williams, who stepped down two months after being appointed interim head of Elgar following the announcement of the federation.

He said he plans to take up a post in China in September.

Elgar was put on special measures by Ofsted inspectors at the end of March, about the time its headteacher Tony James left to take up a director's post at County Hall.

Last month it was revealed Elgar could be turned into an academy school.

However, Worcestershire county councillor Liz Eyre, cabinet member with responsibility for children and young people, said there was still a lot of work to be done if the school was to go in that direction, and it had to focus on what was needed now.