I have been a headteacher for 10 years and have learnt so much from experienced heads in this time. I love supporting others to grow professionally and am always proud to part of the team of Barnet schools whose strength lies in collaboration, shared problem solving and generosity to colleagues across our borough. I have experienced most typical school leadership challenges, champion a coaching approach but am equally happy with sharing ideas and solutions more directly.

I have been a headteacher in a secondary special school for just over 4 years, and before that I was a deputy in Enfield for 6 years. I have dealt with a range of challenges during this time, including navigating a new headship at the height of COVID.  I have been lead DSL for over 10 years. I have also completed the NSPCC Child Protection supervision skills training (in schools) and have provided supervision sessions within and beyond my school for several years. I have chosen to be a professional friend because I enjoy problem solving and want to share good practice with colleagues. I have particular experience of dealing with tricky parents, developing additional sites, managing the impact of complex and sometimes distressing pupils’ behaviour on staff, working collaboratively with governors and driving significant school change. 

I have been a headteacher for over 10 years, firstly in an infant school and more recently in a large primary school.  Being a headteacher can be a difficult job and in my experience having the opportunity to talk to colleagues and share concerns can be invaluable.  I would like to be a professional friend so that I can provide a supportive and empathetic ear and hopefully offer useful advice when needed.  I have particular experience with planning and managing restructures and supporting staff through the process.

I have been a Headteacher in Barnet for 13 years and have very much enjoyed learning and being supported by Headteacher friends along my journey. In the past 13 years, I feel that I have developed great relationships with my deputy, staff and governors. Over the time I have been Headteacher, I have experienced most school leadership challenges including: challenging parents, SEND, behaviour problems, staffing difficulties, curriculum design, restructures, premises and finance issues. I have chosen to be a professional friend because I enjoy sharing and discussing ideas with others and talking problems through. I believe that I am calm, friendly, supportive, approachable and can keep a confidence. I pride myself on developing excellent relationships and a school where people matter. Talking to others when I have had difficulties myself and needed advice has been absolutely invaluable and the more we can all do this (over tea and cake) the better. Headship does not need to be a lonely job.

I have been a headteacher for 2 and a half years so still fairly new to it all but like all new headteachers, I have dealt with a range of challenges during this time. From a graded Ofsted, staffing changes (restructure), tricky parents, discrimination – it has definitely been an interesting couple of years and all whilst balancing a young family! I've chosen to be a professional friend because I feel that whilst we never quite master these things, I can definitely relate and hopefully support others to problem solve and navigate through various challenges.

I have been a Headteacher for almost 10 years and I am now an Executive Headteacher over two schools. I have had experience of opening a school from the beginning, designing a curriculum, coaching, SEND, empowering subject leaders and managing change! Of course the most challenging part of our job is managing people, and supporting everyone when they need it, whilst maintaining high standards in a school. I have also supported a school completely reinvent itself and change a very negative culture to a positive one for staff and children. If you need any friendly advice or just reassurance about the difficult decisions you are having to make then get in touch.