WORK to bring about ‘strong and effective’ leadership at Bournemouth’s first free school will result in more openness and better communication.

That’s the message from chairman of governors, Matt Clarkson, who has been working over the summer to improve the situation at the crisis-hit school.

Parents are due to receive a letter today, informing them of potential changes to the leadership team at the school, although it is not yet known if head teacher, Terry Conaghan, who was on sick leave at the end of the summer term, will return in September.

The school has asked for permission from Bournemouth Council to use Dorset House as its base for another year, following another delay in their move to Hurn.

Mr Clarkson says he wants to improve the communication with parents and the community.

Speaking to the Daily Echo, he admitted there was room for improvement, saying: “I think it’s fair to say there have been issues.

“I am a parent and have talked to them and hear what they’re saying. But it’s not fair to lay all the blame at the feet of the leadership, although they’re not blameless either.

“Rightly or wrongly they took the view that less information is better than more.

“I have tried since Easter to improve the level of communication considerably.

“And that will continue with our letter to parents today, and a meeting at the beginning of term.”

He added: “One of the things we are working on is to ensure that there is strong governance and leadership that begins now.

“We have been working throughout the summer to bring about effective leadership.”

The school still hopes to move into their new site next year - and is looking at either Easter or the summer for the move.

He said the secondary school block aimed to be completed by October, with the primary building scheduled for completion in February 2017.

“We want to move the whole school as one, rather than half now and half later”, Mr Clarkson added.

The Echo revealed in July that Parkfield School’s move to new premises at Bournemouth Airport had been delayed again until 2017, after problems with bats and asbestos.