Progression and Recognition
We encourage career aspiration discussions and have the willingness and ability across our schools to host visits and longer-term secondments, many of which have turned into permanent promotion opportunities.
Sharing and managing our talent in this way means we can offer colleagues long and varied careers with many progression opportunities. We appreciate each and every one of our colleagues but here is just a few highlights for this year.
HR Director Progression
This year our HR Director, Julie Wellacott, stepped down from her role to pursue new adventures, including being a Flexible Working Ambassador for Multi-academy Trusts (FWAM). Julie has been with our Trust since the very beginning and has been instrumental in creating a caring and collaborative working environment where we invest in people, promote wellbeing and treat everyone with respect.
We continue to work with Julie in her capacity as a FWAM and stepping into her Trust shoes, we welcomed Ria Tomlinson as our new Director of HR. Ria was deservedly promoted to from her position as Trust HR Manager and continues to implement and evolve our people management strategy. Ria has a wealth of experience in senior HR and Operational leadership roles in the private sector and now oversees our Trust wide HR teams.
Commercial Director
Founding colleague and Chief Financial Officer for our Trust, Steve Howell, has taken a new direction within our Trust to become our Commercial Director, working with business and educational partners to guide, grow and fund our Trust vision, including launching and managing our Red Kite Foundation.
New Chief Financial Officer
Steve Howell stepping down as Chief Financial Officer has facilitated the natural progression of James Rant to the role. James is a Chartered Accountant with over 12 years of experience working with Charities and Academies. James joined our Trust as Finance Controller in 2019, was promoted to Finance Director in 2021 and is now our Trust CFO.
A Fond Farewell and a New Appointment
At the end of this academic year, our Trust and the Western Primary School community bid a fond farewell to their Headteacher, Mr Tim Broad, who retired to focus on new adventures. Mr Broad was a well-respected and popular Headteacher who has worked hard over many years, to continually improve this Ofsted rated ‘Outstanding’ school. Mr Broad became the acting
Headteacher in January 2020 having worked previously as a teacher, phase leader and Deputy Head at the school since September 1999. We will miss him greatly but are excited to welcome new Headteacher, Mrs Jo Slack, who joins us from Tang Hall Primary School in York. Mrs Slack has a wealth of experience leading both Local Authority and Academy schools working across all year groups from Nursery to Year 6, and has significant expertise in Early Years Foundation Stage, Key Stage 1 and SEND (Special Education Needs and Disabilities).
Since her appointment, Mrs Slack has been spending time at Western Primary School, working with the team, and getting to know the children, to ensure a seamless transition for September 2024.
New Assistant Headteacher
Mrs Emma Grimshaw has been successful in being appointed to Assistant Headteacher at Rossett school, following her return from maternity leave. This is a very well deserved promotion for Emma and recognises all her contribution to improving the quality of education and standards at Rossett school.
HR Secondment
Holly Ratcliffe, HRO for Crawshaw Academy, will start her secondment as Senior HR Officer for our central HR Trust team this month. Covering Emily Seeking’s maternity leave, this is a fantastic opportunity for Holly to develop her skill and broaden her experience as HR practitioner supporting both primary and secondary schools within our Trust and forms part of Holly’s career path.
Holly’s move provides a development opportunity for Jo Bentley, Office Manager and Principal PA at Crawshaw academy to start her secondment as HR Officer. Jo will be completing her CIPD qualification alongside this, which will strengthen her knowledge and skills as a HRO professional.
Emotional and Wellbeing Mentor
Mrs Emma Coverdale has worked at Western Primary School for over seven years. Mrs Coverdale began her journey in the classroom as an effective teaching assistant and then followed her interests in pupil wellbeing to evolve into an experienced well-being practitioner within the Western Primary Emotion & Wellbeing team. She has excelled in this role for the past three years and recently qualified as an Emotional Literacy Support Assistant. Her dedication to our students' mental health and well-being is truly inspiring. She is also a qualify Mental Health First Aider and valued member of our People Board, helping us promote colleague wellbeing throughout our Trust. We salute your commitment and thank you for all the wonderful work you do supporting the young people in our care.
Secondment to Appointment
Mrs Kayleigh Cuddy, Associate Senior Assistant Principal for Temple Moor High School has been successful in a promotion to Vice Principal for Crawshaw Academy. Mrs Cuddy has been instrumental in recent months supporting Crawshaw Academy in a seconded role, contributing to the school improvement plan while developing her own career.
