Tom

As a leader, I am deeply committed to creating opportunities that foster academic excellence while equipping students with the skills, confidence, and resilience they need to navigate the next steps in their journeys. In my areas of responsibility, I strive to cultivate an environment where students grow into curious, courageous, and compassionate individuals with a strong moral compass. This vision is evident in the initiatives I have introduced to prepare students for their future endeavours.

As Careers Lead and Head of Business and Economics at a School, I have developed a comprehensive careers provision designed to support all students. This began with regular student voice sessions to identify gaps in our careers offering, enabling us to tailor experiences to meet their needs. For example, I ensured that all Year 11 and Sixth Form students were exposed to diverse career pathways, such as degree apprenticeships, university, and T-level options, through external speakers and alumni presentations. These alumni shared their varied academic journeys, providing relatable and inspiring examples for current students. These efforts have directly contributed to record numbers of applications to our Sixth Form and to university or degree apprenticeships, demonstrating the tangible impact of this provision on students’ personal growth and aspirations. This has allowed the school to improve their rating on the Gatsby Benchmarks which has been recently highlighted to the Governors.
In my previous role as Assistant Headteacher at London School, I oversaw a wide range of departments, including Business, Economics, ICT, Computer Science, Sociology, Psychology, and Health and Social Care, as well as the Sixth Form. Under my leadership, 62% of Sixth Form students achieved A*-B grades, with 94% securing Distinction* to Merit outcomes. These successes were achieved through fostering a culture of collaboration and accountability. I implemented weekly progress meetings with staff, students, and parents to target interventions for specific/focused students, ensuring clear and consistent communication. As a result, the majority of students improved by at least one grade boundary, reflecting our collective commitment to academic excellence. This is something I have implemented at regular meetings and communication with key school focus area (HPA Boys) and regular communication with parents and students to ensure student growth. This has allowed students to know what they need to do to improve and focussed intervention to support their academic journeys.

During this academic year, I have adapted and enhanced the Business Studies and Economics curriculum with a variety of in class and outclass room activities. Prior to my arrival, the subject`s average grade was 3.3. Over the summer holidays, I developed a new scheme of learning that emphasised academic rigor and provided numerous opportunities for student development. This included incorporating guest speakers, real-life contexts, and extracurricular activities. Through regular learning walks and curriculum-focused meetings centred on core concepts, we have achieved significant improvements. This included explaining exam structures, due to be an examiner for AQA. In the recent coursework moderation January 2025, the average student mark increased by 12 points, and the highest grade improved by two levels, raising the overall average to 5.1. In recognition of the department`s collective hard work and commitment to student success, I have nominated my fellow teachers for the Headteacher’s Award for their exceptional efforts.

I strongly believe that education should extend beyond the classroom and that every student deserves opportunities to develop holistically. Throughout my career, I have championed extracurricular activities to support this growth. For example, this year, I established a weekly discussion group with A-level Business students to explore current news events and their relevance to the curriculum. By addressing previous challenges in applying real-world knowledge, this initiative has significantly improved student performance, with 100% of participants achieving A*-B grades in mock exams. In a previous role I launched personal finance to the cohort. This is a valuable life skill which is designed to ensure that all students are ready for the future. As a result of this I was nominated and highly commended for Personal Finance teacher of the year in 2022.

A key aspect of fostering student success is ensuring the quality and relevance of teaching and learning. To inspire a passion for Business Studies and Economics, I have developed an engaging curriculum that connects theoretical concepts with real-life applications. This curriculum not only captures student interest but also reinforces practical understanding. These adaptations have led to year-on-year increases in student choosing these subjects and consistently improved results.
Recognising the pivotal role of literacy in academic and personal development, I have also led the School Improvement Group for Reading. Our work revealed that many students were not engaging with reading for pleasure. To address this, I launched an initiative in which staff recorded videos reading excerpts from their favourite books, which were then shared during tutor time activities. This program, coupled with a shift in homework policy to include 15 minutes of daily reading (transitioning from CAP to CARP), resulted in a 16% increase in students reading for enjoyment, as highlighted in recent surveys.
As a leader, I firmly believe that success is not solely defined by academic performance but also by the confidence, character, and resilience students develop within the school community. These attributes are essential for navigating challenges beyond the classroom and thriving in later life. My work is driven by a commitment to empowering every student to realize their full potential, both academically and personally.

Availability: Evenings and weekends

Willing to travel: 30 miles

Experience: With a strong background in educational leadership and subject expertise, I bring a wealth of experience in Business Studies and Economics across GCSE, A-level, and BTEC qualifications. As Head of Business and Economics and Careers Lead at a Peterborough School, I have led initiatives that not only raised academic performance but also empowered students to make informed decisions about their futures. My work has directly contributed to record numbers of Sixth Form and university/degree apprenticeship applications, and improved the school’s standing on the Gatsby Benchmarks.

Previously, as Assistant Headteacher at London School, I oversaw multiple departments and the Sixth Form, where I led a culture of high expectations and collaboration. Under my leadership, 62% of students achieved A-B grades*, and 94% earned Distinction to Merit outcomes*. I introduced weekly progress meetings with staff, students, and parents, which led to measurable improvements in student outcomes.

Recently, I redesigned the Business Studies and Economics curriculum to raise standards and engagement. Through real-world applications, guest speakers, and extracurricular enrichment, the department saw a dramatic improvement in coursework outcomes, with the average student mark increasing by 12 points and the overall grade average rising from 3.3 to 5.1.

I also champion holistic development through extracurricular initiatives. I launched a weekly A-level Business discussion group focused on current affairs, which helped 100% of participants achieve A-B grades* in mock exams. In a previous role, I introduced a personal finance curriculum, earning a high commendation for Personal Finance Teacher of the Year in 2022.

Beyond subject teaching, I’ve led whole-school initiatives such as the School Improvement Group for Reading, which increased student engagement with reading for pleasure by 16%. My leadership is grounded in the belief that education should nurture not only academic success but also confidence, character, and resilience—qualities essential for life beyond the classroom.

DBS Check: Yes