Assistant headships for award winners
Richard Westley with pupils from Muschamp School and chair of the Awards, Lord Puttnam
September spells change for children but also for teachers. A number of winners are moving schools this term and we’ve noted a trend that shows they’re aspiring to be school leaders. At least three recent winners have stepped up to assistant headships.
Mark Lewis, 26, winner of the TDA Award for Outstanding New Teacher of the Year in the East in 2007, has been appointed assistant head of Marshland High school in Norfolk after just four years in teaching. He is also a judge for the Teaching Awards in his region.
Mark was a history teacher at The Highfield School in Letchworth, Hertfordshire – the school where he was once a pupil. He was ‘fast-tracked’ and then promoted after 12 months. 'I’ve been lucky - my deputy head was a great mentor and my school was not afraid of calculated risks. They took a gamble with me and I gained lots of experience. I was sad to leave but I am so grateful - it will always be my favourite old school.’
English teacher Nick Wergan, who won the UK Award for Outstanding New Teacher of the Year in 2007, has also gained an assistant headship after four years in the profession. Nick, 41, who switched from a financial career in the City, moves to Blatchington Mill School, Brighton and Hove, having bid a fond farewell to his first school, Sackville in East Grinstead, West Sussex.
Matthew Evans, UK winner of the 2007 Teaching Award for Enterprise, also has new responsibilities as assistant head at Henry Box school in Witney, Oxfordshire having left Forest Boys School in Wokingham, Bucks.
Moving house can be more tricky than moving jobs but this summer Richard Westley, 30, achieved both. Winner of the 2008 BT Award for Primary Teacher of the Year in London, he has left the capital for a new life with his family where he now teaches at St Gilbert’s Primary School in Stanford, Lincolnshire.
Richard’s career began six years ago, first as a teaching assistant then as a teacher at Muschamp primary school, Sutton. He left school at 18 and had a career in banking before finding teaching as a career. 'I think a lot of people have got it in them to be a teacher and I recommend they try. It’s worked for me – my last Year 6 kids were just brilliant.'
