By Ellis Moore
Mrs Marie Adams, Principal of Hope Academy in Newton-le-Willows, has announced she will be leaving her role at the end of this academic year.
In a letter to parents and carers dated 26 January, Mrs Adams confirmed her decision to step down after leading the school since February 2021. She explained that the choice comes from a desire to prioritise her family.
“The time has come for me to place my family at the centre of my life,” she wrote. “Headship is a calling that demands unwavering commitment, and Hope deserves a Principal who can give every ounce of energy to sustain its successful journey. My decision comes from a place of love—for this school and for my family—knowing both deserve the very best.”
During her tenure as Principal, the school has achieved notable successes including record GCSE results in English and mathematics in 2024, and recognition through multiple Educate Awards. Students have also benefited from the Hope Opportunity Trust bursary programme, with recent placements at prestigious boarding schools including Eton College.
However, the school’s journey has not been without challenges. The most recent Ofsted inspection in November 2024 rated Hope Academy as ‘requires improvement’ for quality of education, though inspectors recognised that behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and leadership and management were all rated ‘good’. Inspectors noted that pupils were “benefiting from the recent improvements that the school has made to the quality of education.”
Mrs Adams emphasised her continued commitment to the school until her departure. “Although I will be stepping away at the end of August, I want to be absolutely clear: I am here, fully committed, fully invested, and fully alongside team Hope until my final day,” she stated in the letter.
In a personal message to students, she wrote: “You have inspired me every single day—with your kindness, your determination, your sense of humour, and your unwavering belief that you can achieve great things. Watching you grow, learn, and challenge yourselves has been one of the greatest joys of my career.”
The school is part of All Saints Multi Academy Trust, which will now begin the process of recruiting her successor. Mrs Adams expressed confidence that the trust would appoint “a strong, passionate leader who will take the school from strength to strength.”