Mr Bruce was born in Bootle
and grew up in Crosby. He
entered the teaching
profession in 1978 having
studied English for his
degree. After nine years
teaching mainly in Suffolk
he moved to Colne Primet
High School in East
Lancashire as Head of
English. He left in 1992 to
become one of two Deputy
Headteachers with Mr Madgin
at Burscough Priory High
School.
After six years he was asked
to become Associate Deputy
Headteacher at Mansfield
High School in Brierfield,
Burnley for one term. The
school had been placed in
the category of Special
Measures by Ofsted and he
became a permanent member of
staff until it came out.
The post of Headteacher at
Lathom High School,
Skelmersdale became vacant
in 1999 and he was appointed
just after that school was
put into ‘Serious
Weaknesses’ by Ofsted. The
school came out of that
category in 2001 and since
then has moved to being
oversubscribed and
recognised as the seventh
most improved school in the
country for its examination
performance.
Mr Bruce has said that there
is no danger of Lathom’s
success going to his head
since such achievements can
only be delivered where
there is professionalism and
dedication from staff and
trust in the outstanding
potential of young people.
He sees the post of
Headteacher being about
creating the right ethos so
pupils feel secure and
nurtured and can then learn
successfully. His first
Headteacher post has
reinforced the belief that
if you encourage, support
and have high expectations
of people, they will always
do their best.
He feels privileged to have
led Lathom and to be given
the opportunity by the
Governors to lead Burscough
Priory Science College which
he knows, from his previous
experience of it, is a great
school with wonderful
pupils.
