Avila Delivery Team

I am a current serving Headteacher, leading a successful and high achieving 11-18 Catholic girls’ school, a role I have held consecutively for 15 years. In that time the school has grown in number and I have worked in successful  partnership with various organisations to develop leaders at all levels ensuring strong provision and outcomes for staff and students alike. I have strong commitment to the common good and the belief that we are stronger working collaboratively together.  I have vast strategic experience and can offer both practical support through coaching and accompanying leaders operationally when working to meet the strategic and operational needs of their organisation.  I am a serving Catholic School Inspector and I have successfully completed NPQ, Executive leadership (EL)

I am Headteacher of a high performing Catholic girl’s school, having worked in education for over 25 years and taught in a range of different school contexts. I have a long-standing track record of driving school standards in progress and outcomes as well as pastoral and school management responsibilities. I am passionate about the importance of the enrichment and wider learning opportunities in the curriculum and the impact our future school leaders can have on this. 

As NPQ Strategic Lead, my role is to enable staff to develop their knowledge and application of leadership in education and as a result of this training have a significant impact on the procedures, processes and outcomes in their schools. As a Facilitator on the NPQLT and a coach on NPQSL I have enjoyed working with established and aspiring leaders to apply current evidence-led research linked to individual contexts to improve practice. 

I have delivered for the last three years a ‘Developing Leaders’ course to participants across Sutton and Merton schools. As a current Facilitator on NPQSL, I am professional and approachable and highly knowledgeable about NPQSL and the MFL Curriculum in Secondary schools. My other area of leadership experience is post 16 and CPD. I regard it as a pleasure and a privilege to work with professionals who are exploring approaches to leadership, and are on their very own leadership journey. 

As CPD and Appraisal Lead I know how essential a rigorous and tailor made staff development programme is in creating an outstanding teaching and learning environment and improving outcomes for students. My expertise in leading and delivering CPD has fed into me being a successful Facilitator on the NPQSL programme.  

Having worked for many years as a successful Head of Faculty where I built the Faculty up to achieve results in the second percentile nationally, I know what it takes to ensure successful outcomes for our young people and staff and how to support staff and other leaders through the challenges that teaching brings. As a current Senior Leader, I feel privileged to be in such a position where I can have a positive and lasting impact on staff and students. 

As a Coach and Facilitator on NPQH, I try to meet participant leaders where they are on their personal journey towards Headship. With over 14 years’ experience of primary school headship, I am extremely aware of the pressures that school leaders face. I see my role as trying to help participants make sense of their learning on the course, to balance the ever-changing demands of the role both personally and across the teams in their school. I believe that leadership is a gift and that the space we occupy as leaders should enable and empower those that we serve. 

I have had the privilege of being the Headteacher of St Michael’s Catholic College in Bermondsey since 2017, following Assistant and Deputy Headteacher roles at the school. I recognise that my recent, successful completion of the NPQEL course was enabled by working with experienced facilitators and a supportive coach who helped me to get the most out of the programme. I have had the opportunity in recent years to facilitate units of the NPQSL course, mentor senior leaders and lead peer reviews with partner schools. I believe it is important to help teachers to develop leadership expertise through the sharing of highly effective practice and by supporting them to gain a clear understanding of the skills and attributes needed to make a positive difference as a leader.

I have been Headteacher at Sacred Heart Catholic Primary in Merton for 5 years. As part of my own leadership journey within different school contexts, I have served as a Head of School, Deputy Head, Assistant Head and Inclusion Leader and I originally trained as a Secondary school teacher. I completed my own NPQH in 2017 and am delighted to be working as a coach with those on their own journey to Headship. 

As a Head of Department and Associate Assistant Principal, I have experience in both initiating change and supporting other members of staff in doing this. I feel passionately about tailoring CPD and support to meet the needs of individuals to help them create success. I am looking forward to working alongside people outside my school setting to help them put their vision into action. 

As a Facilitator and Coach on the NPQSL and NPQSENCO, my aim is to develop my colleague’s knowledge and skills of leadership. Participation and completion of the qualification is of course only the starting point, I am excited to support colleagues as they grow in confidence and make a difference in their own settings. 

I have a particular interest in SEN, having been a SENCO for many years and I am passionate about the arts in education. I think it is very important to support teachers in their leadership journey to become the next generation of leaders. The role is constantly changing, adapting and growing. Leaders need effective training and well timed support to achieve their goals and as a Facilitator on the NPQSL, I have up to date knowledge and skills to support the next generation of leaders. The impact of a strong and sensitive leader can never be underestimated when making school processes efficient, streamlined and for the benefit of all. 

During my career, I have had the opportunity to lead staff and I am acutely aware of how important our colleagues are in driving our vision. Through my role as Associate Assistant Principal, I understand the impact that strong senior leaders can have in driving meaningful change in their teams. One of my passions in education is supporting colleagues to enact change in their roles. When we all share a common vision and drive, then goals are more easily met. As a Head of Department for many years, I have worked to support this vision and my experience of completing NPQs throughout my career provides me with a different perspective on the NPQSL. 

In my role as Assistant Principal, I have always sought to collaborate with colleagues and ensure that teaching and learning in our school is based on high impact, cutting edge educational research. I believe that all staff should feel supported and motivated to continue to refine their craft in order to collectively drive teaching and learning practices forward and ensure our students have dedicated practitioners supporting them throughout their academic journey. I am looking forward to working with colleagues from other schools to explore the strategies that will ensure growth and development beyond our immediate context. 

I have completed the NPQSL and an MA in School Leadership and Management. Currently I am responsible for Behaviour, Attitudes and Culture at a whole school level. I very much look forward to facilitating on the NPQLBC; my approach is collaborative and inclusive, building effective relationships. Much has changed in terms of behaviour post covid and we have many new challenges in our schools - however, with the right leaders, support and systems in place, I believe we can create a positive school culture, allowing our young people to flourish and thrive. 

As a former Behaviour Lead, I have a particular interest in evidenced based approaches to school culture and behaviour. My commitment to supporting colleagues’ professional development stems from the value I place on the role of educators in society and the joy I personally get from teaching. Our young people deserve highly motivated, highly qualified teachers who understand the importance of school culture and school-based relationships to ensure they achieve their best.