I am Headteacher at Norton C of E Primary School and Executive Headteacher at Tewkesbury C of E Primary School. I co-chair the TDP (a local cluster of 30 schools) and am on GAPH. Despite the many challenges of headship, I love my job. Working with other school leaders, via the TDP and GAPH, has many benefits.
Together we have the skills to provide a wealth of guidance and support which in turn drives positive change. This can only benefit the lives and the education of Gloucestershire children. Together we are stronger.
Here are some other facts about my life - in no particular order:
I have been teaching for 32 years
I have been a Head Teacher for 14 years
I believe in seeing the best in everyone
I know that children learn best when they are happy
I am close to my family (I have 5 amazing grown up children and an identical twin sister- she’s the naughty one!)
I enjoy running (I can run forever but not always in the right direction)
Favourite film: ‘Hector and His Search for Happiness’
Favourite song: Elbow, ‘One Day Like This’ (or anything jolly)
Favourite quote: “Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that.” Martin Luther king
I took-up my current role as head teacher at St Mary’s Catholic Primary, Churchdown in January 2007. The intervening years have been very enjoyable and relatively uneventful. The school became an academy in August 2011. St Mary’s been part of the Tewkesbury District Partnership from the outset and I know that we have benefitted greatly from our involvement. Having joined the partnership steering group, Jane and I undertook the Co-Chairs role in 2018-19. As a group of colleagues we are all committed to improving the provision for our schools by developing the scope and effectiveness of the support that TDP offers to our members. The on-going development of the partnership is something that we are fully committed to.
I qualified as a teacher in 1996 and spent my NQT year teaching in a large primary school in Oxfordshire. I moved to Gloucestershire in 1998 and taught at Hardwicke Primary (3 years) and Gotherington Primary (2 years). I joined St Thomas More Catholic Primary School in Cheltenham as ‘senior teacher’ in 2003 and was appointed acting head a year later. The ‘acting’ element of the role became permanent after a year and I spent the next two years ‘enjoying’ life as a new head. I moved to my current school, St Mary's, Churchdown, in 2007 and have enjoyed my years here immensely.
I am the headteacher of Churchdown Village Junior School. I have been at the school since September 2012, but spent four happy years at the very same school as a pupil in my younger years! My parents still live in the village today. My teaching background has predominantly focussed around the upper years in KS2, having spent a total of nine years in a Year 6 classroom. I qualified in 1999 and spent my first ten years of teaching in a large four-form entry junior school in Gloucester, starting as an NQT and progressing up to acting Deputy Head. I love working with children in a school environment; no two days are ever the same. I am currently involved in the TDP steering group, having been a previous Chair. It is great to be involved in such a supportive group of headteachers and schools.
I began my teaching career at a Primary school just outside the town of Stafford. After two years I move to Gloucestershire working at Leckhampton Primary School for the next three years. In 2008 I was appointed Deputy Headteacher at Highnam Primary School. After 5 years I was appointed the Headteacher and have thoroughly enjoyed working with such a dedicated and driven staff team and fantastic pupils. Nearly 2 years ago I was appointed the Chief Executive of Primary QuEST - a newly formed multi-academy trust – combining this role with the co-headship at Highnam.
I love to invest in staff development, especially those new to the profession, and help to facilitate the Gloucestershire County Council Newly Qualified Teachers’ programme. I have been on the Tewkesbury District Partnership steering group for a couple of years and enjoy working alongside a super term of Headteachers.
am in my fifth year as headteacher of Isbourne Valley School. It is a small, rural primary school set in the beautiful surroundings of the Cotswolds. Like Jane I’ve spent many a day dealing with a variety of curious livestock visiting us at school then changing focus to teach Forest School or meet with governors to discuss school improvement. It really is such an unpredictable job!
I started my career teaching secondary at inner city comprehensives in Nottingham and Derby before a move south and change of direction to primary teaching. I had many successful years at St James’ Primary in Cheltenham and Churchdown Village Junior School before an acting headship at Cam Hopton.
Collaboration and the sharing of good practice is so important in all schools at all levels and I believe the Tewkesbury District Partnership is an excellent example of how successful this can be.
Justin Godding (Headteacher, Isbourne Valley School)
I am in my 5th year as Head teacher at Winchcombe Abbey CE Primary School. Prior to this I was Head of school under an Executive Head teacher and, before that, was the Deputy Head. I previously worked at Leckhampton CE Primary School and before that Northway Infants where I started my teaching career. I am passionate about nurturing leaders and have enjoyed facilitating on a variety of Middle and senior leader courses.
Life in school brings such variety, no two days are ever the same. I learn constantly from both my colleagues and from the children.
It has been an absolute privilege to be Headteacher at Gotherington Primary School since April 2019. Prior to this role, I was Head of School at Coughton CofE Primary School in Warwickshire.
I thoroughly enjoy my role and the many challenges and opportunities that arise every single day. I love teaching Forest School across the curriculum, spending time with our school dog Hero and living by our Gotherington GOALS every day to Give our best, Open our mind, Aim high, Love learning and Succeed.
The support from TDP since I started at Gotherington has been absolutely brilliant and I love being part of such a great team of people all working together.