I am very proud to be Headteacher at Avonwood Primary School. I see our school as the focal point of a thriving new community. The opportunity to lead a brand new state of the art school in such a beautiful part of the country is a dream role. I have personally recruited every employee and feel fortunate to lead a team of exceptionally driven and talented staff - #TeamAvonwood. I feel very strongly about the ethos of ‘every child matters’ and take a personal interest in getting to know all children and their families. I believe the journey through education is a partnership between the parent, child and school. If we work together then anything is possible… to infinity and beyond!
Having graduated from university in 2006 with first class honours in Business Information Technology, I worked for a large multinational bank on their graduate scheme. After spending two years in industry, I decided to undertake a PGCE at Southampton University, specialising as a teacher of ICT and Computer Science. In 2017 I completed an MSc in Education Leadership and Management. I am fortunate to have worked in a number of educational settings with a wide array of leadership responsibilities at primary, secondary and post 16 age groups.
I firmly believe in research based practice, with our school leading the way with strategies and techniques that are rooted in proven evidence. At Avonwood we are all about ‘inspiring wonder and intellectual curiosity’, this means empowering children with powerful knowledge by deliberately exposing them to rich, diverse and inspirational learning opportunities. When I stand on the gate each morning, I witness children running into school to discover what they are learning today. I believe it is our duty to not only educate children to the highest of academic expectations, but to also make this a learning adventure they never forget.
Even though our history is relatively short, I am very proud to see Avonwood continue to be one of the most over subscribed and popular schools in the county; all the more impressive in a local area blessed with other strong settings. Our children consistently perform highly in standardised external assessments, above local and national averages. At the same time we take great pride in participating in stunning choir performances, competing in local sporting events and bringing learning to life through an array of trips and visits.
My vision for Avonwood Primary School is to become a hub for excellence, supporting schools locally and beyond. During the pandemic we took great pride in helping replicate the success of our virtual school by supporting the Department for Education Technology initiative, delivering CPD and specialist support to schools nationwide. I also sit on the Bournemouth and Poole Council (BCP) Leadership Group for SEND improvement and represent BCP primary schools on the Children and Young Peoples Partnership Board. We believe our unique status as the only United Nations Earth Charter school in Europe gives our ethos a moral compass and relevance fitting for the world we live in today.
Outside of school I love spending time with my young family. In the summer months I’ll be found sat outside our family beach hut reading a good book or building sandcastles with my children! I very much believe that the success of this school is down to our team spirit, with a community that strives for the very best for our children by consistently going above and beyond. I look forward to welcoming you to Avonwood.
I am delighted to be part of such an aspirational and outward-looking school. Having joined in September 2020 as Deputy Headteacher, I am excited to be part of an exceptional team seeking to make Avonwood a hub of educational excellence. My role as Director of Mathematics at the school is supported by my external work as a Teaching for Mastery Specialist with the Jurassic Maths Hub.
I trained to teach, and began my career in education, in South West London before moving down to the south coast 5 years ago. Prior to joining United Learning, I spent 5 years as an Assistant Headteacher and Maths Lead at Muscliff Primary School where I helped transform mathematics teaching at the school. I hold designations as an EdTech Demonstrator and an SLE (Specialist Lead in Education) in addition to being a certified Professional Development Lead by the NCETM (National Centre for Excellence in the Teaching of Mathematics). I also work with several organisations including GL Assessment and ‘Maths – No Problem!’. I have a BA (Hons) in Literature and Film and qualified to teach through the apprenticeship GTP (Graduate Teacher Programme) scheme after working in industry. I am currently completing an NPQH and am involved in research projects looking at the science of teaching and learning.
I believe that, by aiming high, everyone can achieve and progress from their starting points when they are provided with the appropriate resources and given sufficient time. I am convinced that the power of primary education is that we can inspire a lifelong thirst for knowledge and promote a profound passion for learning. For me, a vital part of that process is ensuring that our classrooms are equitable and safe places where all voices are given the space to be heard.
I am extremely proud to be Deputy Headteacher at Avonwood Primary school, who became part of the United Learning Trust in 2019. I began working at Avonwood just a year after it first opened in 2014, where I soon became part of the Senior Leadership team as an Assistant Headteacher.
I achieved a Bachelor of Education with Honours in Art and Design in 1998 after studying at the University of Worcester. I began my teaching career at a school in Poole for many years where I was ambitious to lead and became a Year Leader and joined their Senior Leadership team. I am passionate about teaching and have dedicated my career to making a difference to children’s lives. Teaching in the Early Years is an area of strength, as I understand how young children learn through curiosity and play. A child’s first year at school, I believe is the most important, as the progress they make is phenomenal. I enjoyed being part of setting up the Foundation base at Avonwood, it has grown and developed over the last 7 years into the award winning outstanding setting it is today.
My current role as Designated Safeguarding Lead has led me into many new opportunities of interest, one of them being, supporting children’s mental health and the importance of a nurturing environment. I am proud to say I have recently become a trustee for a local mental health charity. This is a great opportunity for our school to support our local community. I am currently studying a Masters in Leadership and Education, which is extremely fulfilling, I am branching out in to new areas of experience and developing professionally.
I joined Avonwood Primary School in September 2018 as the SENDCo and was appointed Assistant Headteacher in in 2020. I feel proud to be part of such a wonderful community. Ever since I graduated as a teacher, my passion has been working with children who have additional learning needs, which lead me to this post.
I originally graduated from Bournemouth University with a BA (Hons) in Exercise Science. I went on to work in a physiotherapy clinic for 3 years, however I soon realised that it was always my calling to work with children. I re-trained through South Coast Initial Teacher Training (SCITT) and completed my PGCE.
I am passionate about Early Years and have spent most of my teaching years in Foundation or KS1. I have recently completed my National Award for Special Educational Needs Coordinators (NASENCo) from Exter University.
I strongly believe that every child has the right to a high-quality education, no matter what their ability or background. It is our job, as teachers, to breakdown the barriers and allow every child to reach their potential and succeed. Every child deserves to thrive in life, and I believe this starts at the beginning of the education journey, at Primary School.
I am delighted to be a part of such a dedicated and forward-thinking school at Avonwood and I am excited for the growing opportunities that working at such a modern, positive school brings. My teaching career began when I graduated from University of Chichester in 2016 with a BA Hons Degree in Primary Education with English where I worked in a wide range of education settings across Foundation to Year 6. Once I graduated, I taught at Hill View Primary School for two years, where I also led PSHE, before moving to join the team at Avonwood just four years ago.
Since then, I have been afforded the opportunity of leading PSHE, Humanities, Diversity and Inclusion, as well as becoming Year Lead for Year Five. PSHE has always been my passion as I believe this is the starting point for the holistic development of children and how we can help prepare them for an ever-changing, modern society. I am extremely proud of the curriculums I have helped to develop at Avonwood thus far as I passionately believe that at primary school, we develop the more than just the child’s academic achievements but their spiritual, moral, cultural and social development as well. I strongly believe that we should be providing children with the diverse and inclusive curriculum that enable children to see themselves reflected in it.
I am excited for the opportunity to make a wider impact as Associate Assistant Headteacher and I am grateful for the opportunity to work with our thriving wider community as well.
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