 Jean Else became headteacher at Whalley Range in 1994 when the school had the worst truancy rate in England and Wales.During her headship, truancy dropped to below the national average, pupil numbers were almost doubled, and GCSE results improved from 16% to 34% of pupils getting the top grades.School inspectors called it ""a very good school with many strengths and few weaknesses ... exceptionally well led and very efficiently managed and administered"".