A former pupil will return to his old school as its newly appointed headteacher, pledging to make it “the school of choice” for Catholics in Barnet.

The Diocese of Westminster has appointed Martin Tissot to be the new acting headteacher of Bishop Douglass School in Hamilton Road.

Mr Tissot said: “I am delighted to be returning to Bishop Douglass School where I was a pupil myself. 

“I am absolutely committed to ensuring the continued improvement of the school and will be looking to ensure the school quickly becomes outstanding and the school of choice for Barnet’s local Catholic community.”

Mr Tissot currently holds the position of executive head at both St George’s Catholic School in Maida Vale and St Thomas More Catholic School in Wood Green. 

Under his leadership since 2006, St George’s was transformed from an underperforming school to being the fifth most improved school in the country and London’s most improved school in 2009.

By 2010 it was judged by Ofsted to be an Outstanding school, and in the same year, Mr Tissot took over at St Thomas More, transforming it from an underperforming to an Outstanding school.

And in January 2014, St Thomas More was judged the single most improved school in the country.

Bishop Douglass was rated Good by Ofsted inspectors in September last year.

Christine Haugh, chair of governors at Bishop Douglass, said: “Martin Tissot has an excellent and well-deserved reputation for ensuring improvement by focussing on securing outstanding school discipline coupled with traditional approaches and outstanding teaching and learning. 

“The Governing Body are fully confident that the entire Bishop Douglass community joins us in welcoming Martin’s appointment."

JP Morrison, director of education at Westminster Diocese, said: “This is a fantastic opportunity for Bishop Douglass School and I am very pleased that Martin Tissot has taken on this important role.

"I am fully confident he will provide the vision and leadership required to move the school forward, building on the success of his predecessor. I hope the Barnet Catholic community will welcome and support this appointment and continue to support this school.”