A SEAMLESS succession has seen a new head teacher officially appointed at a top North-East school in the latest stage of development of an expanding learning trust.
Hannah Millett takes over as head teacher of Stokesley School, which is part of the Areté Learning Trust, while former head Catherine Brooker concentrates on being chief executive.
The appointment is the latest phase of development in an academies trust which recently welcomed Richmond School and Sixth Form College to the fold with its new head teacher Jenna Potter.
Mrs Millett was appointed head of school a year ago to work alongside Mrs Brooker after being deputy head of King James’ School, Knaresborough.
Middlesbrough-born and a Boro season ticket holder, Mrs Millett was educated at Nunthorpe School, Marton Sixth Form College and Teesside University before working in banking.
After having two sons, she was able to follow her dream to teach and she completed her PGCE at Durham University, training in Redcar and Stockton.
At Ryehills School, Redcar, she was an Advanced Skills Teacher for English where she conducted outreach work with primary schools, provided training for teachers and developed teaching and learning in her own school. She also spent three years as assistant head of Thirsk School.
“The past 12 months has really prepared me for the leadership succession,” Mrs Millett said.
“It is a real privilege to take over as head teacher of one of the best performing schools in the region. I’m excited about the future and the fantastic opportunity Catherine has presented me with.
“The school already has a clear vision so there will be no radical change. The ethos in school is strong and embedded and my role will be to secure and build upon this while providing a new perspective to ensure we remain at the forefront of high quality teaching and learning.
“Catherine and I work incredibly well together, our fantastic students are already used to me, though I will be building relationships even more and I’m really enjoying working with Jenna at Richmond.”
Previously a headteacher in Henley on Thames before taking up her post at Stokesley, Redcar-born, Mrs Brooker, started her career in East London. She said: “This is a new era for the school and the next phase for the trust.
“It will certainly be a different role for me with less interaction with teachers and students as my focus shifts to school improvement across the trust.”
Stokesley School, which attracts students from a wide area covering North Yorkshire and Middlesbrough, recently retained its ‘good’ status after the first inspection under tougher Government guidelines.
The inspection came in the wake of education league tables that placed Stokesley in the top fifth of schools nationally.
Interest in the trust from other schools is growing both from the secondary and primary sectors and Richmond and Stokesley senior staff are already working closely to share expertise and boost professional and learning opportunities.
Mrs Brooker said: “The aim of the multi-academy trust is to provide an environment where all students, regardless of ability and background, can be the best they can be.
“Every child has unique skills and qualities and given the right support, encouragement, opportunity and challenge to achieve, can do so. This way they can thrive academically, personally and socially, so that they experience the real joy of learning from four to 19.”