I have worked in education for 16 years and have been Headteacher at Woodside Primary for the past 4 years, within Birmingham Diocesan Multi-Academy Trust (BDMAT). When I took on the role, Woodside was judged as Requires Improvement, and we embarked on a transformational journey of rapid and sustained school improvement. Through a clear strategic vision, distributed leadership, and a relentless focus on inclusion and excellence, we made significant progress across all areas of the school. This was recognised in our May 2024 Ofsted inspection, where Woodside was graded Good overall, with Outstanding judgements in Early Years, Leadership and Management, and Behaviour and Attitudes. I have built strong leadership capacity across the school, empowering middle leaders, restructuring roles, and implementing a phased leadership model to ensure oversight and continuity. My leadership is rooted in collaboration, accountability, and a deep commitment to pupil outcomes and well-being.
As MEL for SEND and Inclusion across BDMAT, I work with all 19 schools to strengthen inclusive practice and SEND provision. Over the past nine months, I have led trust-wide SEND network meetings, supported SENCOs through structured guidance, and helped shape a cohesive inclusion model across the trust. My passion lies in SEND and in ensuring that every child within the trust feels a deep sense of belonging, regardless of their starting point. With this passion comes a sheer determination to drive equity, raise aspirations, and ensure that provision is both responsive and impactful. My work is underpinned by BDMAT’s SEND Strategy and our Five Principles of Belonging—collaboration, empowerment, dignity, difference, and celebration—which guide our collective commitment to inclusive excellence. I am currently refining the Core Offer to ensure every pupil with SEND receives consistent, high-quality provision. This includes developing SEND Champion and SENCO Assistant roles to build capacity, fostering deeper collaboration with external agencies, and delivering targeted CPD to upskill staff. Through this strategic and inclusive approach, I aim to support Heads and school leaders in embedding sustainable, responsive, and impactful SEND practices across BDMAT.