Rachel, can you give us a brief overview of your career and how your qualifications have influenced your journey?

My most recent role was at the Brooke Weston Trust (BWT), where I served as the Director of Professional Development. In this capacity, I played a crucial role in enhancing the skills and expertise of teachers across BWT schools. I also served as the Secondary Strategic Leader of SEND for BWT, where I focussed on creating inclusive environments and ensuring that students with special educational needs received the support they needed to thrive.

Prior to joining BWT, I held the position of Curriculum Development Director at Researchers in Schools, a programme run by The Brilliant Club. This UK-wide charity aims to empower less advantaged children to access competitive universities and succeed when they get there.

I began my career as a religious studies teacher, eventually going on to become head of department and a school leader. In my time at Lampton Academy, my leadership extended to the Lampton West Alliance SCITT, where I served as the Researchers in Schools Hub Director. My role involved fostering collaboration, sharing best practices, and supporting aspiring teachers.

I hold a BA in Theology from Trinity College, Oxford and a master’s degree in education from the Institute of Education. My academic pursuits culminated in a doctorate in education from King’s College London. My research focus centres on how teachers effectively incorporate evidence from research into their teaching practices. This commitment to evidence-informed teaching drives my dedication to educational excellence.

How do you feel about stepping into the role of Associate Principal at The Wisbech Academy?

I am so delighted to be starting this role at The Wisbech Academy! My vision for the school is to develop a flourishing community where every student feels valued and respected. I am keen to develop learning opportunities that extend beyond the classroom, offering students enriching experiences that ignite curiosity and passion, and help to shape well-rounded individuals who are ready to make a positive impact on the world.

What inspired you to apply for this position?

I was attracted by the opportunity to work with the team in Wisbech, because I have enjoyed working at Thomas Clarkson Academy. The school is open to learning from the best evidence available and is keen to build partnerships locally and nationally. This is something I would like to contribute to, as we build the ‘Wisbech Hub’ across both Thomas Clarkson Academy and The Wisbech Academy. I am also excited by the opportunity to build a school from year 7 upwards.

Which of BWT’s values resonates most with you, and why?

The value that resonates most with me is ‘Excellent Teaching and Support’. This is because evidence from research tells us that the biggest lever we have to improve outcomes for students is to improve the quality of teaching. At The Wisbech Academy we will focus on high-quality teaching and work on keeping this the focus of everything that we do.

What are your top priorities as you begin your role at The Wisbech Academy?

My priorities are first and foremost to create a thriving community, where each person feels valued. We have started to build this community already with staff, students, parents and carers.

We will work on building a positive culture within our community, so that students look forward to coming to school, and staff look forward to coming to work.

Can you share some of the school principles that you aim to implement?

Here are the school principles that we have identified:

• Flourishing Community – we think community is important, and we put time and effort into building positive relationships in our school. We treat everyone with respect and kindness. We value each person in our community and believe that each one of us has an important contribution to make.
• Great Teaching – we believe that the most important thing that we can do to give our students a great education is to deliver great teaching every day. We use the best available evidence from research to help us do this, and we are always on the lookout for ways to improve.
• Learning Beyond the Curriculum – we understand that learning does not just happen in the classroom. We work with the local and wider community to create learning opportunities that encourage our students to be curious about the world around them, and to love learning.
• Our Specialism in Maths and Science - at The Wisbech Academy, we believe that every student deserves the opportunity to excel in science and maths, the subjects that shape our world and our future.

What specific challenge in this role are you most excited about?

I am excited about starting a school from the beginning, with just Year Seven to begin with. We will be a small community at first, and we have the opportunity to build the school community and culture together.

What are some of your interests and hobbies outside of work?

I am a big fan of musical theatre, and I have performed in lots of musicals with the musical theatre company that I am part of. Some of the favourite roles I have played are Sarah Brown in ‘Guys and Dolls’, Audrey in ‘Little Shop of Horrors’ and Polly in ‘Crazy for You.’ I find being part of the company a lot of fun and a great way to switch off from work.