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Education Improvement

 

Director of Education & Standards Trust – SALLY SMITH

Sally has over eighteen years’ experience as a successful teacher, leader and trainer. This has included her working as Director of Learning for a large Multi Academy Trust and as an HMI for Ofsted East Midlands. She now works as an Independent Consultant and School Improvement Advisor for schools and Trusts, this includes working for Coventry Local Authority as their School Monitoring Officer for secondary schools.

She has highly developed skills and knowledge of inspection and quality assurance practices, gained through inspecting secondary, primary and overseas military schools. She has also been involved in ITE inspections, Multi-Academy Trust reviews and delivering national Ofsted training.

Her experience of leading complex inspections together with background in senior leadership in secondary schools in the West and East Midlands, has given her a deep knowledge and understanding of the features necessary for a school to be successful.

She helps raise standards in education by providing a wide range of school improvement services to schools, local authorities and other educational organisations.

Director of Education & Standards South ATAM – SIMON WEBB

Simon has been one of Her Majesty’s Inspectors for primary, secondary and special schools in the East of England and has been an external expert for the DfE on their free schools team. He also has his enhanced SEND training with Ofsted. As such, he is highly trained in the accurate evaluation of schools against the Ofsted framework and is experienced in guiding school leaders to achieve high standards. As chief examiner for Cambridge Education’s British school overseas inspectorate he has worked with the DFE on aligning these inspections with Ofsted’s methodology. Currently he is a school improvement partner for three multi academy trusts, governance trainer for a local authority and on Bedford Borough LA’s advisory team. He is also external examiner for several SCITTs. He has just completed 6 months as a interim CEO for a MAT. His areas of expertise include: all aspects of raising achievement, pupil premium strategy, governor reviews, safeguarding, improving teaching and learning and assessment and pupil tracking data systems. This can be combined with extensive curriculum experience including International Baccalaureate, vocational qualifications, the national curriculum and GCSE. Simon can combine his role as HMI with headteacher of an international all-through school and 15 years of senior management experience in state schools, an MBA in Educational Management and NPQH. Simon has been subject to an enhanced DBS disclosure on the update service

Quality of Education Lead (C&O) MANAN MIRZA

I am honoured to be the Vice principal at The Khalsa Academy Wolverhampton since September 2021. I have attained a diploma in International Baccalaureate (I.B) from Copenhagen, Denmark (2000) and BSc (Hons) from De Montfort University Leicester (2004). I completed my Post Graduate Certificate in Education from University of Derby in 2005.

In my leadership roles, I have developed a strong collaborative working approach that enables high quality learning and teaching to evolve within a strong ethos of mutual trust, respect and teamwork. I have undertaken training to become a facilitator on the NCSL National Professional Qualification for Middle Leaders and SSAT qualification of National Award for Middle Leaders. Alongside my co-facilitator I have delivered a range of sessions for the development of middle leaders. Prior to this course I worked collaboratively with a senior colleague from an Outstanding All-through school to successfully deliver the NCSL Middle Leadership Programme for a period of two years. I also have been a facilitator for Teacher Development and Leadership provider called OLEVI for number of years,

I am a husband and blessed to be the father of three awesome children, they are the loves of my life.  I have the same expectations for them as I do for my pupils at TKAW. I want to see them excel and become productive human beings, who have ample opportunity to become whatever they want to be when they grow up.   

It is my privilege to lead The Khalsa Academy Wolverhampton and the many talented teachers and students here! My goal is to continue to provide a supportive climate and culture that is conducive to teaching and learning. By doing so, each individual student and teacher can experience growth to their highest potential. I look forward to interacting with all stakeholders in our school community.

 

Quality of Education Lead (T&L/Digital) – JAVIER DE-LAS-HERAS

After completing my BA (Hons) at the University of Valencia (Spain), I obtained a Master’s degree in Computer Science in the UK. I have taught and lead computing up to A Level for over 18 years in 4 successful schools, and I am currently TKAT leader for learning & teaching / Digital. Furthermore, I am the Computing At Schools leader in Wolverhampton and Subject Matter Expert for the National Centre for Computing in Education in the West Midlands; these roles involve training computing and edtech leaders in the region. In 2022, I was awarded the Highly Commended Certificate for Digital Innovator of the year at the National Teacher’s Awards. I strongly believe that providing the best education to pupils can transform their lives and aid them to fulfil their potential

 

Communication Lead (Literacy, Numeracy, Oracy, Extending Reading & Writing)

IAN ASTBURY

I came into teaching via a grammar school education and studying languages in Barcelona, Dijon and the University of Birmingham. I have always believed that education is the only way that people can make the best of themselves and it is our duty as teachers to offer those opportunities to those who wish to make as much progress as possible. 

With over a decade as a Head of Modern Foreign Languages, I have worked with a variety of teaching styles in a range of schools. I have always aimed to make my lessons impactful and engaging, and fortunately have had the opportunity to teach four key skills, Reading, Writing, Listening and Speaking. This has allowed me to develop my own understanding of teaching and learning through collaborating with different departments across primary, secondary and higher education institutions. 

Having taken on the responsibility of aiming to improve teaching and learning at TKAW, I have worked on the CPD provision, INSET days and the TALIT team, in addition to having further opportunities to develop the Communications strand across the Trust. This allows me to offer my experience and support in the four key skills, and also to continue to learn more about how best to support our children, academically, holistically and individually

Safeguarding Lead – SUKHDEV SHOKER

Sukhdev has recently been appointed as the Head of School at TKAW. Trained as a Maths teacher Sukhdev worked in a variety of challenging schools across the West Midlands before joining The Khalsa Academy Wolverhampton in 2017. He has worked across schools within the Trust, most recently as Head of School for the 2021/2022 academic year at a sister school. 

As the Trust Safeguarding Lead DSL for The Khalsa Academies Trust, Sukhdev is committed to developing a strong embedded culture of safeguarding practice across the Trust with the wellbeing of students at the heart of everything the schools do. He has a proven track record of “effective” safeguarding practice, with a number of successful Ofsted and internal inspections to his credit.

Sukhdev is a strong advocate for females and gender equality. He believes girls, particularly those from an Asian background, need to be provided the confidence and opportunities to excel in all aspects of their school and personal lives, and that there should be no ceiling to their success.

 

Inclusion Lead – AMY EVANS

I have been at The Khalsa Academy Wolverhampton for 7 years and I am honoured to be Assistant Principal. I have been in Education for 19 years and have always had a passion for Inclusion. I have a degree with honor's in Teaching and learning as well as a post graduate certificate in education (Special Educational needs) and I am also a qualified access arrangements assessor. 

I believe everyone should have the same opportunities in life and I am passionate about my area. I have delivered many CPD sessions for different areas of SEND needs and am part of the teaching and learning team. 

I am embarking on my next journey to gain my NPQSL in Inclusion to help develop and strengthen my leadership skills for our Trust. 

I am a mother of one with a passion for creativity which helps in my job role.    

 

STRATEGIC SEND LEAD – JON GIBSON

Works as Director of Backdrop Education and Backdrop Coaching.

Jon is currently supporting leadership across the country.  He co-authored the SEND Review of the State of Guernsey and Alderney and was a team member for the Inclusion Review of the State of Jersey.  His articles have been published in the nasen connect magazine, Sec Ed and Primary Headteacher.

His work includes working as an improvement partner for schools. He has conducted over a one hundred plus reviews of secondary, primary, middle, first or special schools, and has worked within large projects in two English Education Opportunity Areas. He also works in Wales and with an international setting.

He is also an Executive coach who works with school and business leaders, a DSL supervisor and he mentors SENDCos.

He started teaching drama in London in 1996 and has been a leader since his second year of teaching. He became a Senior leader in 2004, working in mainstream and SEND settings. He has experience of successfully leading: Teaching & Learning; Curriculum; Professional Development; Student Services and SEND; Data and School Improvement and other areas.

As well as this, he has written a Level 2 course specifications for EDEXCEL, he has been a Challenge Partner Reviewer and is a trained British Schools Overseas Reviewer and SEND reviewer.

He is an active member of his church and is about to become the Trustee of a multi academy trust.

 

Behaviour & Attitudes / Sikh Ethos Lead – MANRAJ SINGH DHILLON

Manraj Singh Dhillon is the Assistant Principal for Behaviour & Attitudes at the Khalsa Academy Wolverhampton.

Manraj has worked in Education and Alternative Provision for over 15 years, leading and delivering pastoral care across educational providers within the West Midlands. 

He has lead Pastoral teams across primary and secondary establishments and has worked across two educational trusts, strategically implementing measures to improve the attitudes and behaviour of students.

Manraj is actively involved in charitable organisations which support those less fortunate.