My story
After studying French and Spanish for my degree and then escaping from being a trainee bank manager, I did my PGCE at Southampton and taught in Devon, Wiltshire and Leicestershire, becoming head of faculty along the way. I then became a deputy head in Dorset which is when I started to use data to help raise attainment. After a headship in South Gloucestershire, I joined the National Strategies, initially as a regional adviser for behaviour and attendance and then as a senior adviser for data. I also became an Ofsted inspector around the same time.
I joined SSAT in May 2011 as Head of Data and then the school self-evaluation/Ofsted programme became part of our team’s work shortly afterwards.
I really enjoy working alongside the people at SSAT – they’re knowledgeable, friendly and always ready to chip in and help. I love leading training events and meeting so many colleagues from different schools around the country and also getting into schools to do consultancy work. It’s particularly rewarding when you work with one school several times and you can feel the difference from one visit to another…
Anything else?
Unfortunately, I’m a Portsmouth FC supporter, so a lot of my time is taken up by therapy. I love watching cricket as well and wish I had more time to play golf – I might even get better at it.
