ENRICHING lives is the new ethos of a Basingstoke secondary school where a new headteacher is the driving force behind positive changes.

Leigh Adams took over as the head of The Costello School in May, and hopes to build on the good reputation it has established over the years.

Mr Adams was promoted after joining Costello in September last year as head of school.

Speaking to The Gazette about his new role leading the school, he said: “It’s been a really good challenge. The students are fantastic. They are really positive.”

He added: “They have been through a tough couple of years with the changes in leadership but you wouldn’t know it. Behaviour is outstanding. The students want the very best for the school as do the parents. That comes in various guises but everyone is really focused on improving the school and giving the students the best chance.”

Speaking of the school’s new ethos, he said it refers to not just the students but also parents and the local community.

He hopes to develop the school in the future to create better access to the community facilities so members of the public can use them at weekends.

There are various other changes to the school site in the pipeline – Costello is about to submit a planning application to extend its dining facility to double it in size.

Mr Adams also hopes to relocate the school entrance, which has been a problem for years.

As previously reported in The Gazette, cars regularly park along the entrance in Crossborough Hill, making it impossible for pupils to cross the road safely.

Mr Adams, who was born and raised on the Isle of Man, started his teaching career as a business and economics teacher, working his way up the career ladder to head of year then head of department.

He moved to a school in Cambridge to become head of school before taking a role as an assistant head at a school in Leatherhead.

For the four years prior to joining Costello he was working as the deputy head at George Abbot School in Guildford.

Referring to his move to Costello, he said: “When I looked at Costello I felt it’s a school that needs someone who understands what outstanding looks like.

“I was sold on the place.”

But, he said there is always room for improvement academically, adding: “We want every student to make as much progress as possible.

“That’s what we are driving towards.

“We won’t be talking about five GCSEs between A* and C, we will be talking about how much progress students have made from Key Stage 3 to Key Stage 4.”

Mr Adams also hopes to work closely with other schools in Basingstoke.

He added: “There’s a huge appetite in the town for Basingstoke schools to come together and work proactively to raise the profile of education and the levels of attainment and progress.

“We all want to move in the same direction.”