A SCHOOL whose new headteacher is hoping to transform its fortunes has been given a new name after a legendary beast.

Darlington School of Mathematics and Science, in the Branksome area of the town, has been renamed Wyvern Academy, having been taken over by Consilium Academy Trust.

The Wyvern is a legendary creature with a dragon’s head and wings, a reptilian body, two legs and a tail.

It has a long association with Branksome Hall, the home of John Kitching, a railway entrepreneur and founder of Darlington Unionist Association.

The Kitching family crest originally contained a knight’s helmet and shield with three logos, but John removed the helmet, added the Wyvern for protection and the motto ‘Nunquam cedo’, which means ‘I never yield’.

Recently appointed headteacher Mo Wilkinson said: “We asked members of the school and wider community what they would like to call the academy and the Wyvern was the most popular choice.

“The fact our school magazine is also called the Wyvern makes it the perfect choice.”

Ward councillor for Cockerton, Dave Regan, who helped research the link, said: “All three of my children chose to come to this school and the prospects for its future are very exciting.”

Consilium Academies work in partnership with Armthorpe Academy, near Doncaster, Buile Hill Visual Arts College, Moorside High and Ellesmere Park academies, all in Salford.

Wyvern Academy will be the trust’s first school in the North-East and act as a hub for future expansion in the region.

Executive director Martin Shevill said: “Our motto is to ‘Surround children with all things noble’, which is a whole-education approach to learning.

“We want to improve results, yes, but it is also about making sure children enjoy their education and are fully prepared for the world they live in.”

Sonia Johnson, the trust’s executive director for business and finance, added: “There is a great deal of interest in Consilium because of our ethos and approach to learning.

“We are really looking forward to pressing ahead with our work in Darlington and the North-East.”

In December 2015 the former Darlington School of Maths and Science was given a ‘requires improvement’ rating from education watchdog Ofsted after an inspection found it was falling short of its targets.