
25THE ELIZABETHAN ACADEMY |
BEST PRACTICE REPRESENTATIVE 2018
the individual through a host of extra-
curricular programmes and an active
social calendar. Our extra-curricular
programme has expanded every year.
We have our own Combined Cadet
Force, a thriving DofE programme,
sports teams and debating club. We
have been awarded Gold Artsmark and
won Worksop Music Festival 12 years
in a row. For me, being out of your
comfort zone – whether performing
onstage or climbing to the top of
Kinder Scout – is how you develop
character and resilience. We have a
highly successful student leadership
programme and I consider some of
our student leaders to be integral parts
of my leadership team, who impart
invaluable knowledge and ground-
level feedback. Furthermore, we
endeavour to provide students with
the qualifications, skills and attitude to
be successful in the future. We have
a broad curriculum which celebrates a
comprehensive spectrum of the arts,
sports and technology and provides
our cohort with a rounded and
meaningfuleducation.
I spent part of my youth in India
and this demonstrated to me the
importance of education and high
aspirations and standards – not only as
a route out of poverty, but to increase
life chances. I was lucky; I had a family
who encouraged me and provided
me with a range of opportunities.
My father was ahead of his time
and believed women should be
independent and pursue careers that
fulfilled them. I am passionate about
promoting women into leadership
positions and we have a vibrant
programme at the school – launched
by Nicky Morgan at our conference
in 2015 – which benefits a variety of
schools in different counties, while
supporting and encouraging coaching
across schools in the local area. The
focus is developing leadership, and
introducing a culture of distributed
leadership has enabled the school to
really progress. I let everyone know
when I have made mistakes, which, by
virtue of honesty, enables others to do
the same without fear ofretribution.
Being a stand-alone academy suits
us, as we can make decisions quickly
and we understand and can respond
to the issues in the local community.
There is something very special about
being able to work collaboratively
and in partnership with different
organisations of our choosing, while
retaining independence. My father
once told me that if you leave the
world a better place for one person,
it is a life well lived. As teachers, we
have the ability to enrich the lives of
hundreds of people; what a privilege
that is.
We celebrate
the arts,
sports and
technology
“
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Geography lesson
Students performing Les
Misérables