I am looking forward to working with you and your families when I take up my position as head teacher of Burnt Mill School in January 2010.
Having grown up in Preston I was attracted to the idea of studying in London. Having completed my degree in History I decided to pursue a career in teaching. Since 1991 I have worked in a variety of comprehensive schools in or around the London area. I started work in a large East End Comprehensive which had 1600 pupils. Fortunately I was able to place my three children in the school crèche, which was run by the parents of some of the pupils at my school. As a result of these contacts I was able to witness and experience the strong sense of community which existed amongst pupils and parents alike. Indeed the values and aspirations of many of these parents match my own as well as helped me to form a vision of what type of school I wanted to lead as well as shape.
In order for me to gain the relevant experience and knowledge to become a Headteacher I steadily gained promotion starting with a Head of Department job at a mixed comprehensive in Lewisham. Having worked there for several years I was able to return to my first school as an Assistant Deputy Head. Once again I was able to build upon and expand my knowledge of the education system. My last two jobs have given me an even more varied yet incredibly important and vital insight into teaching. I have worked first of all as a Deputy Headteacher in a girls’ school in Bexleyheath, followed by my current post as Deputy Headteacher of a boys’ school back in the East End of London.
Like myself in my role as an educator, my own three children have grown. I am now the mother of three teenagers; one daughter and two sons. I have first hand knowledge of the trials and tribulations of children in these years. Combined with the knowledge and experience that I have accumulated during my career thus far, I am convinced that my actions and decisions will enable the pupils to strive to achieve their potential. I always ensure I treat other people’s children in the way that I would want my own teenagers to be treated. I also expect young people to act in a way that I would expect my own children to act. I place a great deal of importance on traditional values, as I was raised by my parents and grandparents to be polite and to respect other people. Indeed I have noticed throughout my teaching career that when adults behave in a courteous manner and expect children to do likewise, that invariably a calmer and more enjoyable atmosphere prevails in the school. Any successful school needs a tranquil ambience if the pupils are to achieve fantastic examination results. I am passionate about all young people, regardless of background, achieving exam success as the evidence shows that it can have a profound effect on their future lives. One only has to look at one of the first pupils I taught at the large East End Comprehensive who is now the Headteacher of a primary school.
I realize that leisure is incredibly important, especially in this day and age when advances in technology have made it less necessary to exercise. I am a keen runner, running 8-12 miles a week and I go to the gym with my daughter. My husband and children have influenced me in my choice of football clubs, causing me to nervously await the outcome of any matches involving Everton!
Once again I am looking forward to taking up the position of Burnt Mill School’s head teacher in the new year.
Helena Mills |
