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Key Staff
Gareth
W Williams – Principal
 During
the past sixteen years as Principal of West Kirby Residential school
I have led the school through four very successful Ofsted
inspections. The overall evaluation of the last inspection was that;
“This is an outstanding school providing exceptional value for
money” and “Although attainment on entry to the school is
very low, achievement is outstanding". The report goes on to say
“Progress is excellent across the school because the quality of
teaching is outstanding”. Improvements since the school was
inspected have been excellent overall and my current evaluation of
the school is that we have further developed since January 2008.
This can be qualified by what the school has achieved since then;
Quality Standards in Careers including Physical Education
(Sportsmark and Activemark), Art (Artsmark- Silver) and the Enhanced
National Healthy Schools Award. From September 2007 the school has
operated as a SEN Specialist College having been approved with a
specialism of Behaviour, Emotional and Social Difficulties.
In May 2007, I was successfully accredited to
become a School Improvement Partner (SIP) I saw this as a two way
process, one as an opportunity of going out and seeing other similar
schools and secondly an opportunity to assist others Heads and
Governors in shaping their School Improvement Plans. I am pleased to
say that most of the schools I have been involved with have been
special schools, predominately catering for pupils with Behavioural,
Emotional and Social Difficulties and all have received positive
inspection reports in the last two years.
As part of my own development, in November
2001, I took part in the Leadership Programme for Serving
Headteachers (LPSH). I found the course most rewarding not only in
understanding leadership styles and adopting them to my
staff/school’s needs, but also as a useful tool to help me develop
my Senior Leadership Team and Middle Managers to a level where I
felt they would have the ability to lead their teams successfully
within school. Again evidence of this can be seen throughout the
Ofsted reports “The leadership and management of the school are
outstanding”. “The Principal has a very strong vision for the future
of the school and has high quality planning to support this”
(Ofsted). “The Senior Management Team provide effective
management and a clear leadership”; “The school is well managed and
efficiently run, providing a safe and stable environment for the
children for studying and living there” (CSCI ).
Following my designation as a National Leader
of Education and the school as a National Support School in October
2006, I along with members of my Senior Leadership Team have had the
opportunity to meet and work alongside many other senior staff from
within Local Authorities, Schools and The National College. Also,
being involved with National Organisations such as NASS, NAES and
SEBDA, I continually update my knowledge and understanding of
education, and have a strong commitment to improving the quality of
teaching and learning in schools.
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