Below I have outlined my experience:

1980-1990- Teaching and progressing to Acting Headship

1990-1992 – Shropshire County Council – Curriculum and Assessment Coordinator supporting schools to develop effective curriculum plans and assessing learning

1992-1997 – Headteacher St.Lawrence Primary School, Preston upon the  Wealdmoors, Telford and Wrekin LA Shropshire

1997-2005 – Headteacher, St.Peter.s CE Primary  School, Edgmond, Telford and Wrekin LA , Shropshire

2006-2009 – Primary Strategy Manager Southend Borough Council, in charge of Primary School Improvement

2009-2015 – Headteacher Tyrrells Primary Academy Chelmsford, Essex LA retired from full time headship in  2015. During my time at Tyrrels, I led the school through the academisation process so am familiar with the demands and roles and responsibilities within a Trust.

2015-2023 – Provided School Improvement support for 13 schools and Trusts in London Borough of Newham.

I have always been outward looking, using every career experience as the opportunity to learn more about school leadership. In addition to the 22 years of school headship experience and LA experience as outlined above, I have worked with a number of national organisations developing leadership at all levels and collaborative leadership. I worked with the National College of School Leadership for 15 years, seconded part time from school on the development and facilitation of Primary leadership programmes, contributing to the development of national policy. Our local cluster of schools were part of the first cohort of Networked Learning Communities. I am an accredited Leadership Coach and worked for 4 years as a coach/facilitator for Ambition School Leadership Middle Leadership Programme. I also supported the NAHT Aspire School Improvement programme, monitoring the implementation of the programme in the schools that were part of the programme.

Having retired from full-time Headship after 35 years, I was commissioned by LBN to provide 15 days per term to use my experience to work with 13 primary schools in Newham as School Improvement Adviser, building positive relationships and supporting school leaders to drive improvement and deal with the significant challenge of school leadership in the current context. I supported them through the most challenging time of the pandemic!. I intended to do this for 2 years but ended up doing it for 9 years!! I decided to finish in July as my 90 year old mother needs increasing amounts of support.

Having spent 43 Years in primary education , I am  just about finding life balance! I support my 90 year old mother and in my down-time, you will find me playing tennis, doing Pilates and Zumba, singing in choirs and I have recently done my first paddle-boarding course!