The third leadership change in three years has been announced at Merrill College and conversion to academy status is only months away. Education correspondent Zena Hawley looks at what the future holds for the Alvaston school.

The one thing that Merrill College has needed for years has been stability.

A series of seven head teachers – some permanent and others temporary – in the past 14 years has done little to bring this about.

And just when it seems that in the past 18 months things have settled down under the joint headships of Lynn Whittaker and Geoff Wilson, the situation is now due to change again.

With Merrill's impending academy status will come yet another new head teacher.

It comes at a crucial time for the Alvaston school, which has recently turned a corner with an encouraging Ofsted report after years of poor results, below-average attendance and bad behaviour.

Those behind the academy conversion say they are keen to build on the school's recent successes, though unions fear it could be too much change for a school crying out for stability.

David Croll, principal of Derby College, which is sponsoring the school's conversion to an academy, is anxious that parents, staff and pupils are reassured.

He said: "I appreciate that Merrill has been on a journey and improvements are already evident.

"As the academy sponsor, we are committed to providing the widest range of opportunities for both students and staff of Merrill and very much look forward to working with everyone."

Derby College first stepped in to give assistance to Merrill 18 months ago.

The school had been named as one of the country's worst 638 failing schools by the then Labour Government in 2008 and ordered to become a National Challenge Trust School linked with the college.

Out went the head teacher Dr Roger Shipton, together with the existing governing body, to be replaced by the joint headship of Whittaker and Wilson and a trust board headed by former city head teacher Carol Dover.

The ensuing months saw several teachers depart, a new code of behaviour introduced and a glowing report from the Office for Standards in Education.

The inspectors concluded that the school was "satisfactory and rapidly improving", with "outstanding" safeguarding procedures and leadership from the co-principals.

They went on to observe that students felt safe because staff were "vigorous in addressing any incidents of poor behaviour" and opportunities for bullying were rare.

The inspectors also praised the strong stance on "gang behaviour" by banning gang colours from being worn in the school.

But the decision to become an academy has caused ripples in what had become calmer waters.

Mrs Whittaker and Mr Wilson, almost inevitably according to Government policy, are to be replaced by new head Michael Whelan, who is now the principal-designate of the academy until September, when he takes over full-time.

Mr Whelan, who is presently an associate head teacher in Birmingham, was appointed following two days of interviews, which included Mrs Whittaker and Mr Wilson.

And trust board chairman Mrs Dover has resigned from the position with immediate effect and also from the Derby College governing body.

Mr Croll confirmed: "We have had two principals who have done excellent work and in future Mr Whelan will be in charge."

Mr Croll said he would be very closely involved in developments at the new academy and would work with Mr Whelan.

He said: "Conversion to an academy will mean that funding is received directly from central government, enabling us to provide the resources that best meet the needs of learners and the wider community.

"In addition, the sponsorship from Derby College will ensure the learning environment harnesses modern technologies."

Mr Whelan was unavailable for comment ahead of meeting with staff and pupils at Merrill College.

Mr Croll said: "I think he felt it was important he spoke to the people at the college first and they got to know him and his ideas before telling the wider public through the newspaper."

Mrs Whittaker and Mr Wilson are maintaining a discreet silence following their failure to be appointed as head teacher.

Mrs Dover, who previously turned around the former failing High View School – now da Vinci Community College – when head of Lees Brook Community School, is also being diplomatic about the situation. She also refused to be drawn in detail about her resignation from the two governing bodies.

Instead she said: "I am very proud of what has been achieved at Merrill – it is more than a journey of improvement, it has been a transformation and I am very pleased that Ofsted recognised the outstanding leadership of the two co-principals.

"I took this role on in the first place because David Croll asked me to and I have given a great deal of time and effort to Merrill because I believe the staff and students are worth it and the local community deserves a good school.

"Since it appeared the academy would be moving in a different direction, I judged it right for me to step down as chair of governors.

"I leave behind a very strong and effective governing body, which will be in place up to the academy opening.

"The staff at Merrill now know how good a school it can be with the right leadership. They have worked incredibly hard over the past 18 months and shown great commitment to the students.

"I hope what they have achieved is built on in the new academy and I wish the staff and the students the very best for the future."

Meanwhile, the teaching unions are also keeping an eye on the situation as any perceived threat to members' pay and conditions resulting from conversion to academy status could bring about industrial action.

Previously, Derby College and the Merrill College governing body indicated that pay and conditions would be carried over into the new academy but the changes have made Dave Wilkinson, branch secretary of the National Association of Schoolmasters Union of Women Teachers, wary.

He said: "The decision by Derby College not to appoint the current co-principals as principals of the new academy seems, quite frankly, bizarre.

"For the first time in years the school was benefiting from stable leadership.

"All pupils and staff need stability and Merrill pupils and staff deserve it more than most.

"The new regime must confirm national schoolteachers' terms and conditions as a priority and also that it intends to transfer all current teacher employees over to employment in the new academy if it wishes to retain the confidence of teachers.

"The current co-principals are victims of this government's obsession for regime change in schools and they should not regard their non-appointment as, in any way, a failure of their leadership as heads.

"The current co-principals and the National Challenge Trust governing body rescued Merrill College two years ago when it was plummeting towards the abyss."

Mr Croll said parents, pupils and staff would get the chance to find out more about the future at Merrill College.

He said: "A key part of the academy conversion process is consulting with them and the wider Allenton and Alvaston communities.

"We plan to hold a series of consultation events between the end of February and April which will provide everyone with an opportunity to hear our plans for the new academy at Merrill and to share opinions on the proposals.

"The events will also provide people with an opportunity to meet Mr Whelan and share ideas for the academy."