THE first school in Worcestershire to undergo a fresh start is in prime position to re-open with a bang, according to its chairman of governors.

Elbury Mount Primary School will officially close at the end of August and open the following day, September 1, as Fairfield Community Primary School.

The fresh start scheme attempts to draw a line under previous troubles - in Elbury Mount's case both serious weaknesses and special measures - and establish a new school ethos and atmosphere.

After the resignation of former headteacher Kay Morgan, in November, Julia Rogula accepted the poisoned chalice of guiding the school through its final two-and-a-half terms.

There was no chance to set long-term goals or build for the future, but a need to stabilise pupil numbers and results, with Her Majesty's Inspectors scrutinising every move.

Now, after eight months of hard work from pupils, parents and staff, everything is in place for the Fairfield Close school to hit the ground running in the new academic year.

"Obviously I'm pleased there's a line drawn under what happened in the past," said county councillor John Buckley, chairman of the school's interim governing board.

"We will have a new governing body who will get behind the school and we will go forward."

Coun Buckley was delighted with the dedication and hard work of Ms Rogula, and looked forward to the new academic year under the "exciting" leadership of Alex Wall.

Mr Wall, former headteacher at Hampton St Andrew's CE First School, in Maryman's Road, Evesham, will take over from Ms Rogula in September.

"Julia has done a tremendous job of stabilising the school and moving it forwards," he said.

"She has set the pace and we are confident that the new team can move it on.

"Alex is a really good head, with some great ideas and lots of experience of pulling schools out of special measures.

"There is a full team in place - from the head to the kitchen staff - and we have a great mix of really experienced teachers and very good young ones. It all looks excellent."

And the fresh start will be reinforced by physical changes to the site, with work beginning on a new school during the summer.

Another boost to staff and pupils is that, when it re-opens as Fairfield Community Primary, it will lose the stigma of special measures that dogged Elbury Mount.

Inspectors will keep a close eye on the Brickfields school to monitor progress over the first three years, but it will not be deemed to have educational weaknesses.

On her last day at the school, Julia Rogula paid tribute to the tremendous work of her colleagues and the great support the school received from parents.

"It's the first fresh start in Worcestershire and quite a challenge, but HMI were really pleased with it when they left," said Ms Rogula, who will return to Pitmaston Primary School, in Malvern Road, St John's, in September.

"They said we had done everything they expected and more. When they are happy, I am happy.

"It's all been down to fantastic effort from staff and pupils and great support from the parents.

Recipe for success in fairer funding bid

FAIR-funding campaigners in Worcestershire have long known Schools Minister David Miliband does not part with cash easily - but even they have been surprised by his latest antics.

Helen Donovan, a governor of St Mary's RC Primary School, Evesham, has for years been frustrated by the perceived discrimination in government distribution of school cash.

After fruitless campaigns to Westminster, meetings with Mr Miliband and letters to Education Secretary Charles Clarke she hit on a more covert method of "levelling the financial playing field".

"I saw an interview with Charles Clarke recently when he said he wanted schools to be more responsible for their own budget," said Mrs Donovan, whose children attend the school.

"So we compiled a cookbook with recipes from pupils and staff, and some signed recipes from celebrities such as Delia Smith and Antony Worrall Thompson. They are £3 each, all the money goes towards the school and we sent a copy to Mr Miliband and Mr Clarke.

"The money would at least be a start for Worcestershire's schools."

Mrs Donovan sent the books on Friday, July 9, and is still waiting for the £6.