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The Academy of St Francis of Assisi
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Staff profiles
Tara Welsh
Leader of Learning Support
What do you like about working here?
I love working with the students, the staff at ASFA are incredible. They are really supportive and will do everything they can to help the students.
How have you been supported since joining The Academy of St Francis of Assisi?
I have worked at ASFA since the school opened and have always worked as part of a really supportive team. Senior Leadership have believed in me and have helped me develop my role and take it to the next level.
What have you done that you are proud of whilst working at The Academy of St Francis of Assisi?
I am proud of the way I have helped students make the transition from primary to secondary school and the difference that I have made to some of the families within our community.
What are the students like to work with?
The students are amazing! Many students have a lot to deal with as young people but they show resilience, determination and so much character. I have learnt a lot from them.
What advice would you give to someone thinking of joining The Academy of St Francis of Assisi?
That they would learn a lot from working in our school, that staff would help and support them. That it can be challenging but worth the hard work as you get so much from the students.
How have you been developed professionally?
For many years I was the Learning Mentor, I then became the Lead Learning Mentor and in September this year I started a new role of Leader of Learning Support. Whatever course I have asked to attend, I have always been supported in developing my skills.
What support do you get?
I lead a team and get a lot of support from them, I am also part of the Pastoral teams who are fantastic and support each other. My line manager has regular meetings with me and has always supported and believed in me. The Senior Leadership Team have encouraged me and given me the confidence and self-belief.
What professional development and career opportunities do you think will be open in the future?
I don’t want to work in any other school-I want to be the best that I can here at ASFA. My development is to work hard at the new roll that I am in and access any training that is relevant and that will help me to help my team, the school and the students.
Tell me about your department
As Leader of Learning Support, I manage the Learning Support Assistants who are amazing and who work so hard for the students. I manage the Reconciliation Centre, the centre is extremely well managed and is well supported by the Behaviour Support Co-Ordinator. Within Learning Support we have the Language Acquisition department which is managed by the Language Acquisition Co-ordinator who always goes the extra mile for our students. We also have the Small Learning Community which is led by a primary trained teacher who delivers English and Maths lessons to Year 7 and 8’s. The class has a small number of students as it focusses on bridging the gap for these students whilst also providing a very nurturing based approach, students enjoy being part of the Small Learning Community and feel well supported and happy.
Kate Sedgwick
Director of Curriculum
What do you like about working here?
- Working as part of a cohesive staff body who are supportive and caring to each other
- Working with amazing students who have brilliant personalities and who are all individuals
- Helping to support the kind of students who really look to teachers for advice, guidance and reassurance
How have you been supported since joining The Academy of St Francis of Assisi?
- Staff are incredibly supportive of each other so I have received support and guidance from people in various roles
- The line management structure at the Academy ensures that you are supported on a one to one basis and have regular opportunities for meetings with your line manager
- Support is given when seeking opportunities for professional development, useful advice has been given to me when considering CPD
What have you done that you are proud of whilst working at The Academy of St Francis of Assisi?
- Raised the profile of social science subjects at the Academy
- Achieved some brilliant A level results in social sciences
- Worked to inspire students who have really appreciated the hard work that goes into this job
What are the students like to work with?
- The students at the Academy are all unique and no day is ever the same, but that makes me enjoy the experience
- The students are full of energy and have brilliant personalities
- Although any students of secondary school age can be difficult at times, the students at the Academy definitely appreciate everything you do.
What extra-curricular activities do you get involved in?
- Trips and visits, including University visits and students conferences
- Psychology club is offered in the social sciences department one night per week after school
- There are also some other brilliant extra-curricular activities in the school, for example ‘debate mate’
What advice would you give to someone thinking of joining The Academy of St Francis of Assisi?
- Come and visit the school before you apply. Get a feel for what we do and who we are!
- If you want to work somewhere that is challenging, but equally rewarding you will fit in here
- There is always someone here for you to talk to, bounce ideas off or get advice from
How have you been developed professionally?
- I have changed roles twice since being at the Academy and have been given the support I needed to do so
- I have been involved in teaching and learning groups and worked with others to develop the whole school
- I have developed my understanding of working with a number of different student groups
What support do you get?
- There is always someone who knows the answer to a question I have, or if they don’t, they will find it!
- Colleagues in all roles and at all levels have been fully supportive of me since I joined the academy
- Training has been provided to help me develop professionally, both internally and externally
What professional development and career opportunities do you think will be open in the future?
- We are currently working with Sycol, who I am looking forward to learning about and working with
- I plan to continue to develop the skills I have gained since joining the Academy
- I plan to continue to grow my own subject, with the first cohort of year 11 psychologists in September 2017
Tell me about your department
- Social science is made up of Psychology, Sociology and Law.
- We have three teachers of Social Science who all have different skills and levels of experience – from NQT to Extended Leadership
- We have seen a 100% increase in attainment in level 2 Health and Social care in the past 2 years and have achieved outstanding A level results
Christine Williams
Head of Year 8
What do you like about working here?
I feel there is a sense of optimism about the school, staff are working towards making it the best that we can for our students and that shared purpose and ambition is a huge motivation.
How have you been supported since joining The Academy of St Francis of Assisi?
There is a lot of celebration of all at the Academy, achievements do not go unnoticed and peer to peer praise and thanks is the norm. There are always staff willing to help when I am stuck over something because I am new.
What have you done that you are proud of whilst working at The Academy of St Francis of Assisi?
My year group have consistently improved their attitude to learning points through the year. The cultural citizens project is going well and the students are enthused about new experiences.
What are the students like to work with?
I find most of the student’s respectful and enthusiastic rising to any challenge I set for them.
What extra-curricular activities do you get involved in?
The cultural citizens project is my own extra curricular which involves a weekly session to study for the bronze art award and the trips are weekends and holidays mostly. I also stay for all evening events like the Christmas community concert and the Scholars evening, anything my year group are in really.
What advice would you give to someone thinking of joining The Academy of St Francis of Assisi?
I have felt very fulfilled starting here. There are times when it is a challenge but the support from colleagues helps and watching the students develop is so amazing, they are so grateful of the opportunities we extend to them.
How have you been developed professionally?
There was training in advance of my project and I have also been offered other opportunities along the way which would compliment my specific role in the school. The staff insets have been forward thinking about how we can collectively work together on improving the school and I feel like I have a voice here.
What support do you get?
I have a line manager who is extremely supportive and our team work closely with one another with a lot of guidance and support from Mrs Cubbin who oversees us all.
What professional development and career opportunities do you think will be open in the future?
I would like to continue to grow in the role I am in as I progress through the years with my year group. I feel more development in engaging with parents may be a direction we could take. I am a yes person, I am keen and enthusiastic and I am loving all of the opportunities I am being given to develop in the school.
Tell me about your department
Pastoral Care is coordinated by Mrs Cubbin, she has Mrs Thompson and Mr Lougnane who oversee KS3 & 4 respectively and there are non-teaching year heads, behaviour support and SEN who are all represented in the group. We meet daily to discuss the day to day management of the whole school to get a consistency in approach and weekly to strategise the path forwards. It is very much a collaboration lead sensitively and supportively and all of us have our role and our own opinions to contribute to the wider group. It is a strategic approach and we are able to get ahead of many things that could impact students to ensure the best possible experience for all. The system supports the teaching aspect of school life and gives the teaching staff an additional layer of support they may not have in any other school. It is an exciting endeavour to be a part of, innovating a new way forward for the school.
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