Headteacher's Blog
First Thoughts…
We need to get to the heart of our wonderful school, as this is where we’ll create something purposeful, something inspirational and something co-owned by all.
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Realising the potential in every child, their whole self – today – and for their future selves and using every moment they are in our care, to make this happen, quickly, is the belief that underpins every move we make.
We are here to help support tomorrow’s citizens and help our children discover themselves and their place in the world. We are proud to be a part of the JTMAT and share the belief ‘in the power of education to improve lives – and the world.’
Fradley Park is made up of the most brilliant group of professionals and it is a place where children and adults are excited to learn. We are here to help support tomorrow’s citizens and help our children discover themselves and their place in the world.
Get to know the dedicated team here at Fradley Park!
Headteacher and Designated Safeguarding Lead
One thing about me: I’m a terrible cook but I’m lucky to have a husband who is brilliant in the kitchen!
Something I’m proud of: This school and every little and big person in it. Also – I once ran for 10 miles!
Favourite book: Children’s book: ‘Where the Wild Things Are’ by Maurice Sendak.
Grown up book: A book that has always stuck with me is, ‘A Man called Ove’ by Fredrik Backman – a favourite with my book club.
Favourite number: 2…it’s always been my lucky number. I became Headteacher of Fradley Park in 2022 so it must be true. What’s your lucky number?
Favourite place in school: The Hall – it’s where we celebrate, sing and dance together.
I am delighted to be the Assistant Headteacher, SENDCO, Early Years Lead and Class Teacher at Fradley Park Primary and Nursery School
One thing about me: I love nothing more than being in the great outdoors and I enjoy sharing funny stories about my 6 ducks who I adore.
Something I’m proud of: I take great pride in seeing children achieve their potential and I am always keen to develop my practice through research. Meeting children’s individual needs, nurturing them to develop a love of learning and ensuring well-being, is a priority in my classroom and my passion.
Favourite book: My favourite book is ‘Whiff or How the Beautiful Big Fat Smelly Baby Found a Friend’ by Ian Whybrow. This book was introduced to me by a child many years ago.
Favourite number: My favourite number is the number 13. Unlucky for some but lucky for me!
Favourite place in school: My favourite place in school is the book area in my classroom.
Class Teacher
One thing about me: I have a Border Collie called Dylan.
Something I’m proud of: I completed the Great Scottish 10k Swim in 2018 and was the 8th fastest female!
Favourite book: I love anything by Julia Donaldson but especially The Gruffalo.
Favourite number: 24.
Favourite place in school: The Nursery classroom – I love playing with the children and watching them learn and grow.
Class Teacher
One thing about me: I enjoy baking in my spare time- especially cupcakes with buttercream icing! I also love going on adventures, visiting new places and trying new foods and activities.
Something I’m proud of: I am proud of being able to complete my Primary Education degree alongside working at Fradley Park. I also did a skydive for charity raising over £1000- I had to be very brave!
Favourite book: Children’s book: ‘The Very Hungry Caterpillar’ by Eric Carle. It’s a book I always remember wanting read as a child.
Grown up book: ‘The Chimp Paradox’ by Prof Steve Peters, explaining how some parts of our brain can get us into trouble if we don’t control it!
Favourite number: 3! I was born on the 3rd June which makes it my favourite number and it’s the only odd number I choose for the lottery.
Favourite place in school: The classroom. It’s always full of smiley faces, fun activities, and lots of laughter.
Early Years Professional (EYP)
One thing about me: I like to see the positives in everything I do.
Something I’m proud of: Running the London Marathon eight months after having my first child. I still can’t believe I did it!
Favourite book: Children’s book: Room on the Broom by Julia Donaldson.
Grown-up book: The Boy, The Mole, The Fox and the Horse by Charlie Mackesy.
Favourite number: 4. Just for the number of people in my little family!
Favourite place in school: Our Nursery classroom, filled with children, happily exploring our provision. We are very lucky to have such a lovely space to play and learn.
Part-Time Class Teacher
One thing about me: I once did a bungee jump and tandem skydive in New Zealand.
Something I’m proud of: I am proud of being a part of the Fradley Park Family.
Favourite book: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl (I just love his descriptions of the chocolates and sweets!).
Favourite number: 7 is my lucky number!
Favourite place in school: Any room where the children are learning and laughing!
Office Services Manager
One thing about me:
I love spending any free time I have at our family caravan in Wales, with my little boy. We love nothing more than exploring the different places and playing on the beach.
Something I’m proud of:
I feel proud to be part of the Fradley Park team, after being at my previous school for nearly 14 years this was something, I was very apprehensive about!
Favourite book:
Children’s book -My favourite children’s book is Elmer by David Mckee. I really enjoyed reading it as a child and even more so now, reading it with my son.
I love how the story teaches us that everyone is different and that you should always be yourself, especially if you are a multicoloured elephant
Favourite number: My favourite number is the number 12.
Favourite place in school: My Favourite place in school is the office, from here you get to see all our happy and smiley children moving around the school.
Clerical Admin Assistant
One thing about me: I really enjoy going to music festivals.
Something I’m proud of: Adopting my two children, six years ago.
Favourite book:
Children’s Book- Fantastic Mr Fox
Adult Book – I love an autobiography and Gareth Thomas was a good one.
Favourite number: Unlucky for some but mine is 13!
Favourite place in school: The school office because there is always a warm welcome.
Lunchtime Supervisor
One thing about me: I love dogs.
Something I’m proud of: I am proud of how far I have come and getting to where I want to be.
Favourite book: We’re going on a bear hunt.
Favourite number: 3 and I don’t know why but I always pick 3.
Favourite place in school: Year 1 classroom because that’s where after school club is and we have lots of fun.
Caretaker
One thing about me: I’m handy!
Something I’m proud of: All the things I have built over the years.
Favourite Book: Instruction Manuals!
Favourite Number: 10.
Favourite place in school: My cupboard.
Teaching Assistant
One thing about me:
I am a qualified lightsaber combat instructor.
Something I’m proud of:
I am proud father of two boys.
Favourite book:
Children’s Book- The magic faraway tree by Enid Blyton
Adult Book – More of a series than one book; The night angel trilogy by Brent Weeks.
Favourite number:
3, I seem to pass things third time, driving test, maths test. People say, third time lucky. Fradley is the third school I have worked in, so it must be true!
Favourite place in school:
The playground – where we play, run, explore, a place to explore friendships and the great outdoors.
Teaching Assistant
One thing about me:
I can play the keyboard!
Something I’m proud of:
My 2 children and completing my degree.
Favourite book:
Children’s Book- Matilda
Adult Book – Jojo Moyes Books particularly Me Before You
Favourite number:
Number 2.
Favourite place in school:
Nursery Classroom – where we have lots of fun being imaginative and creative!
Class Teacher
One thing about me:
I love building lego! I have built a three-story mini-figure house that took over two days!
Something I’m proud of:
Moving to a new continent and living there for a year. It was marvellous to see another part of the world, the culture and everything that surrounds it!
Favourite book:
Children’s Book- Grandad’s Secret Giant – David Lichfield – I’ve read this countless times and it still brings a smile to my face!
Adult Book – The Midnight Library by Matt Haig – it hooked me instantly and I read it all in a day.
Favourite number:
14 – its my birth date!
Favourite place in school:
My reading corner – its all cosy and full of amazing books to read!
Extended School Support Educarer
One thing about me:
I come from a large family of 7 and now I have my own large family, who mean the world to me.
Something I’m proud of:
I’m incredibly proud of my children. They amaze me every day with their hard work and kindness.
Favourite book:
Children’s Book- The Wind In The Willows. It’s a book my grandad read to me as a child and now I read it to my children. It has a special place in my heart.
Adult Book -The Lord of The Rings. I find the stories to be so well written.
Favourite number:
Anything even.
Favourite place in school:
The ELSA room. It’s a relaxing and welcoming room..
Lunchtime Supervisor
One thing about me: .
Something I’m proud of:
Favourite book:
Children’s Book –
Adult Book –
Favourite number:
Favourite place in school:
Teaching Assistant
One thing about me:
I love nothing more than curling up on the sofa after a long day out and about with the children to do my cross-stitch or anything a little crafty.
Something I’m proud of:
My two children! I have worked with young children more or less my entire working career but I have learnt so much from being a parent.
Favourite book:
Children’s Book –
Any Julia Donaldson book but particularly Room on the Broom. It was my son’s favourite book when he was little and I love to read it as it is beautifully written.
Adult Book –
I don’t get as much time as I would like to read but I love any crime novel. One of my favourite authors is Angela Marson’s as her series is based in the Black Country which is where my family is from.
Favourite number:
13 – this was my Dad’s favourite number and it always brought him luck.
Favourite place in school:
The library, I love to take reading groups into the library and listen to them all reading their own books. It is an amazing feeling to help anyone learn to read and enjoy the magic of books. I didn’t read my first book willingly until I was 13, it was goosebumps, and ever since I have loved being able to get lost in a book.
Class Teacher
One thing about me: .
Something I’m proud of:
Favourite book:
Children’s Book –
Adult Book –
Favourite number:
Favourite place in school:
EYFS and future curriculum development. SEND, equality and inclusion (including Pupil Premium)
I qualified as a teacher at York. St John College 20 years ago and have worked in schools and educational settings ever since. I have held a variety of positions over the course of that time and for the past 4 years I have been headteacher of another JTMAT primary school. I am also a governor of another school outside of the Trust but am very proud to be part of the Local Governing Body at Fradley Park and I look forward to supporting the children and staff in my role as Parent Governor.
One last thing about me: I have recently published a book, entitled ‘SPARKS’, which provides children with strategies to support their mental health, resilience and wellbeing.
Chair of Governors
I have lived in Fradley for 4 years and love the community here and I am pleased to be more involved in it through being a governor at Fradley Park Primary School.
I have worked for Rolls-Royce as an engineer since 2011, where I currently lead the department designing the engines for aeroplanes. Before that, I studied for a degree in Physics at the University of Sheffield.
I enjoy sharing my love of engineering and science to show that STEM subjects are for everyone! Outside of work, I enjoy spending time hiking and cycling with my husband and travelling in our camper van.
One last thing about me: In my spare time I love to scuba dive and swim with sharks!
Vice Chair of Governors
It’s a pleasure to have joined the Fradley Park School board of governors at the beginning of their journey. I have lived in Fradley for 18 years and watched my three daughters progress through local schools, so I was keen to play a (small) part in the school’s evolving story.
In my day job, I work for a start-up company, bringing a new home finance provider to life. So, the newly formed Fradley Park School seemed a perfect fit. Previously I worked for NatWest for over 20 years, primarily overseeing operations in the Mortgage Services arm.
Outside of work, I love to play golf and annoy my family by playing the guitar.
One last thing about me: I am a qualified windsurfing instructor.
Finances and Audits
I am delighted to be the Assistant Headteacher, SENDCO, Early Years Lead, Reception Class Teacher and Staff Governor at Fradley Park Nursery and Primary School.
I take great pride in seeing children achieve their potential and I am always keen to develop my practice through research. Meeting children’s individual needs, nurturing them to develop a love of learning and ensuring well-being is a priority in the classroom is my passion.
One last thing about me: I love nothing more than being in the great outdoors and enjoy sharing funny stories about my 6 ducks who I adore.
Fradley Park is made up of the most brilliant group of professionals and it is a place where children and adults are excited to learn.
We are here to help support tomorrow’s citizens and help our children discover themselves and their place in the world.
Stay updated with the Fradley school updates, Headteacher’s blogs from Mrs Allen and Action Research blogs.
We need to get to the heart of our wonderful school, as this is where we’ll create something purposeful, something inspirational and something co-owned by all.
“Children demand honesty and simplicity. They expect words to line up with deeds. They have a strong sense of justice and fair play. They look at everything with new eyes, and point out to us the incredible beauty of the world around us”.
I am super excited to be introducing Forest School to the children of Fradley Park. Dust down your wellies and come along…
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