School Leaders
Mrs Katy Astle
Headteacher
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St George's CE Primary School
Katy has a BA Hons degree in Primary Education with a specialism of English. She attended the University of Durham and began her first teaching position teaching Reception in West Berkshire. She then worked in Watford and Oxfordshire in a range of different teaching roles, teaching all year groups in KS1 and KS2. In 2010, Katy became SENDCo and completed the National Award for SEN Co-ordination (NASENCo) at Oxford Brookes University. In 2017, Katy decided to move to Dorset to be closer to the sea and worked in a number of schools in Poole as a Year Leader and Deputy Headteacher, before moving to St George’s in 2021 initially as Deputy Headteacher/SENDCo. Katy became Acting Headteacher in September 2021 and was then made the substantive Headteacher in September 2022.
Mr Adam Burt
Headteacher
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Swanage Primary School
Mrs Ali Carter
Headteacher
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Courthill Infant School
Ali has been teaching since 1994 and had the privilege of starting her teaching career in the London Borough of Newham. Her first class had 100% children from ethnic minority backgrounds and social deprivation was high. Her years teaching there were her formative years where she was able to grasp a fundamental understanding of how children acquire the English language and also of how deprivation can be a key factor in affecting life chances.
When Ali moved to Poole she taught in Early Years and Key Stage 1 in two different first schools. During which time she extended her leadership responsibilities by taking on roles such as English Leader, Leading Literacy Teacher for the Borough, Assessment Leader and EYFS leader. In 2011 she was appointed as Deputy Headteacher in a large Primary School in Bournemouth, which included leading Inclusion across the school.
In April 2015 Ali returned to Poole as Headteacher of Courthill Infant School.
Mrs Christine Chambers
Headteacher
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Lilliput CE Infant School
Christine is the Headteacher at Lilliput C.E. Infant School and has an extensive teaching background spanning nearly 30 years. She has a MA in Educational Studies specialising in coaching and mentoring.
Christine’s subject specialism is music which she has led at Lilliput as well as trained teachers as part of the Poole SCITT course, developing their subject knowledge and pedagogy. More recently she became a member of the British Dyslexia Association, having gained an equivalent Masters in Dyslexia, allowing her to carry out full dyslexic assessments.
She also sits on the board for the Borough’s SEN strategy group, the Poole School’s Forum and the SCITT management board.
Mr Julian Churchill
Headteacher
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Heatherlands Primary School
Julian qualified as a teacher in 1995 in South Wales before developed his early career in Bournemouth as a strong classroom practitioner, before moving into middle management leading across KS2. In 2002, Julian started his journey into senior leadership as Deputy Head of a Poole first school, before being part of a team that worked through the Age of Transfer process to establish the school as a strong local primary. Julian had a successful track record as a Deputy Head before moving into headship in 2019.
Julian also gained further professional growth as part of a team that successfully achieved National Support School status (NSS), this enabled staff to be deployed to support other schools in challenging circumstances. Julian was also recruited as an SLE for behaviour across Poole and Dorset and undertook deployments across Dorset. Julian has a Masters in Professional Studies from the University of Kingston specialising in coaching and mentoring and qualified as a level 5 leadership coach in the summer of 2023.
Julian remains a dedicated local Headteacher who retains a standards focus approach to leadership whilst paying close attention to the emotional well-being of staff, children and the broader community. Julian is also committed to partnership working in all areas of his MAT, Coastal Learning Partnership.
Mrs Nicole Davids
Headteacher
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Nicole has a degree in Theatre Design and worked in London with various drama groups and theatres before moving into education. Nicole has been working in schools since 2001, starting as a teaching assistant at an inner London primary. She then went on to complete the Graduate Training Programme at Goldsmiths University and continued to work at the same school as a teacher until 2013. While there, she taught across the full primary age range and led a range of subjects including art, English and PSHE, as well as leading on curriculum development. During this time, the school moved from Special Measures to Outstanding. In 2013, she moved her young family to Dorset, and started working at Wareham St Mary as a teacher. She has been in a leadership position since 2018 and became headteacher in April 2022. Nicole has a passion for reading and considers it an absolute privilege to help children to become life-long lovers of books and stories. She is very proud of her strong and supportive staff team and the school's nurturing ethos.
Mrs Tracey Edwards
Headteacher
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Queen's Park Infant Academy
Tracey has been teaching since 1993, after completing her degree at Warwick University. With a specialism in Early Years, Tracey began her career in an Infant school in Solihull, West Midlands teaching in Reception. She has continued working and leading across Infant Education since then and believes passionately about high quality early years education for all children. In 1996 Tracey returned to her home county of Dorset and took up a post in a four form Infant School. She was promoted to Year lead and Mathematics subject lead before then becoming a Leading Maths teacher for Bournemouth Local Authority. Tracey become Deputy Head and SENco/inclusion lead in 2000 and she has been supporting the professional development of colleagues within the field of SEND since then. Tracey took on the role of Headteacher at Queens Park Infant Academy in September 2016. This has enabled Tracey to have the privileged position within the community to lead in Infant Education. Creating a school culture and developing a learning environment that holds relationships and respect at its heart, maintains high expectations and promotes all that is essential for our youngest children to be the best that they can be.
Mr Martin Godfrey
Headteacher
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St Luke's CE Primary School
Martin has been teaching in the local area since qualifying in the summer of 1996. His first teaching post was at St Aldhelms Combined School in Poole (now Bishop Aldhelms). Working in both Y3 and Y5, Martin learnt a great deal about how to be an effective primary educator at this supportive school.
In September 2000, Martin moved onto Baden Powell and St Peters Middle school where he led Computing and become Y6 leader for many years. Then in 2008, he was appointed as Assistant Headteacher in a large Infant School in Poole, which included leading Maths and CPD across the school. Martin later became Deputy Headteacher and Head of school in the same establishment.
In September 2016, Martin returned to work for Dorset Council as Deputy Headteacher of the largest primary school in the county. From the summer of 2018 to the summer of 2024 he was the Headteacher at Swanage Primary School. Martin has recently taken on the role of Headteacher of St Luke's CE Primary School from September 2024.
Mrs Ellie Griffiths
Headteacher
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Wool CE Primary School
Ellie has a BA Hons degree in English Literature from Cardiff University and a Post Graduate Certificate in Education from Exeter University. She qualified as a teacher in 2002 and since then has taught across the primary phase. Her career has included leading in a variety of areas including English, Science, Music, RE and Pupil Premium, and she has also been part of a steering group for Dorset Council which focused on assessment for learning. Ellie has delivered training for schools in this area and has continued to prioritise the use of this strategy when monitoring teaching and learning. Whilst teaching at a large primary school in the Purbecks, Ellie became an Assistant Headteacher with a focus on Key Stage 2. Following this position, she furthered her curriculum knowledge and practice by then teaching in the early years foundation stage. This experience cemented her belief in the importance of this first year of primary school if we are to encourage children to be lifelong learners. Since taking on the substantive role of Headteacher at Wool CE Primary in April 2019, Ellie has shared her passion for developing strategies which nurture positive relationships within the school setting. She is a Therapeutic Thinking Tutor and passionately believes in the importance of encouraging strong partnerships between home and school in order to enable everyone in the school community to feel valued and to flourish.
Mr Doug Gubbins
Headteacher
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Old Town Infant School and Nursery
Doug completed his degree in Performing Arts at Winchester University before going on to complete a PGCE through the Borough of Poole SCITT. In 2005 he took up his first teaching post at Broadstone First School, where he taught across a range of year groups from Reception through to Year 4.
During his time at Broadstone First he took on leadership roles for ICT and the Early Years Foundation stage. Doug was also given the exciting opportunity to work with an Educational Consultant on Curriculum Development across the primary years. This allowed him to work with colleagues across neighbouring authorities such as Hampshire and the Isle of Wight
As a result of his work with (a) Early Years and (b) Curriculum Development, Doug was made a Specialist Leader of Education (SLE) by the National College of School Leadership in their very first round of recruitment across the country – he then went on to support schools in these two particular areas.
Doug was seconded across to Old Town Infant School in 2012 to provide some leadership support. He worked there on a part-time basis before permanently moving across as Deputy Headteacher in January 2013.
Since being at Old Town, Doug has been responsible for assessment, leading EYFS and all things ‘Inclusion’. In addition to this he has also worked in partnership with Poole SCITT and Poole Teaching School Alliance’s SDITT programme as a School based professional mentor, supporting both newly qualified, and trainee teachers. Doug has also worked as a Local Authority Moderator for EYFS for the past six years. He is passionate about quality CPD and has equally enjoyed teaching the SEN and EYFS modules to Newly Qualified and Early Entry teachers across the Coastal Learning Partnerships NQT+1 course.
Doug is currently working towards obtaining his NPQH qualification and is delighted that his first Headship is in a school he knows so well.
Out of school Doug has been a prominent figure in the amateur dramatic scene, recently retiring as a co-owner of a local production company. He enjoys cinema, fitness, food and quizzes – one of his proudest achievements to date is making it to the final on BBC’s Pointless.
Miss Janine Harries
Headteacher
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Heathlands Primary Academy and Pre-school
Janine is an experienced headteacher who began teaching in 1998. Her first leadership post, in St Luke’s CE Primary School in Bournemouth, as an Infant Phase Leader when the school split site due to expansion. Janine then became Inclusion Leader and Assistant Head at Sylvan Infant School in Poole and during this time she was seconded to another local school as Deputy Head. Janine was the Headteacher at Old Town Infant School & Nursery in the centre of Poole from September 2012 until May 2020.
Janine became the Headteacher at Heathlands Primary Academy & Pre-school in May 2020. She is passionate about learning for all and children having the best possible education regardless of their start point.
Janine has led collaborative projects across the Local Authority. Additionally, she has been a lead moderator for the Local Authority. Janine has also worked with local teaching schools to support the next generation of teachers and has a long-established link with ITT provisions including SCITT and School Direct programme for EYFS. She also mentors new Headteachers.
Mr Nigel Helm
Headteacher
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Longfleet CE Primary School
Nigel has worked in several schools within the Poole and Dorset area since graduating in 1999. He began at Upton Junior School before moving on to Lytchett Matravers Primary School. During his time at Lytchett Matravers he undertook a number of roles including being accredited as an Advanced Skills Teacher in Mathematics and PE.
In 2008 Nigel moved post to become the Deputy Head at Courthill Infant School before taking up his first headship at Upton Infant School. Alongside his six successful years at the school he also supported several other Dorset schools in his role as a School Evaluation Partner for the Local Authority.
Nigel has been headteacher at Longfleet Primary School since September 2016 2016 in which time the number of pupils on roll has grown to 630 and it continues to have a flourishing partnership with St. Mary's Church Longfleet.
Miss Amy Howe
Headteacher
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Corfe Castle CE Primary School
Amy has a BA Hons degree in Primary Education with a specialism of Modern Foreign Languages at Primary. She attended the University of Chichester and began her first teaching position in West Dorset. In 2016, Amy began teaching in Key Stage 2 at Swanage St Mark's CE Primary School and later became the Literacy lead for the school. After taking maternity leave in 2018, Amy took on the role of 'Teaching and Learning Coach', this role enabled her to develop her understanding of school improvement and support teachers throughout their career pathways.
In 2020, she was seconded to support Corfe Castle CE Primary School as an Interim Deputy Headteacher. In January 2021, Amy became a permanent member of staff at Corfe Castle CE Primary School and is now undertaking the role of Headteacher. From September 2024, Amy will be supporting the central CLP school improvement team whilst continuing her role at Headteacher at Corfe Castle CE Primary School.
Mrs Rebecca Martin
Headteacher
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Swanage St Mark's CE Primary School
After graduating with a BA Honours in Modern Foreign Languages I moved to Dorset from Nottingham in 2005 and gained a PGCE from Southampton University in 2007. I started my teaching career in Middle School Education, with a keen interest in Languages, teaching French and Spanish along with class teaching in Key Stage Two.
With the re-structuring of the Purbeck schools in 2013 to form Primary Schools I started work at St Mark's Primary in Swanage at a time of great change. Teaching predominantly in years two and six I have taken on additional responsibility in recent years becoming Assistant Head, Deputy Head and ultimately Head of School in January 2021. I currently lead Maths, Assessment, Computing, MFL and PSHE and have a keen interest in driving sport throughout the school.
Mrs Jemma Murray
Headteacher
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Stoborough CE Primary School
Jemma has been teaching across the full primary range since 2006, including leadership roles of assistant at Lytchett Matravers Primary School and deputy headteacher at St Luke’s Primary school in Bournemouth. In this time, Jemma was a KS1 moderator across Dorset and BCP and became a qualified coach. She particularly enjoys working with colleagues to raise standards. Jemma became acting headteacher of St Luke’s in January 2020 before taking on the substantive role of headteacher at Stoborough in September 2020. Jemma feels privileged to lead a talented and committed staff who serve at the heart of their community.
Jemma believes that the primary school years should be some of the best of your life and that every child should be given the opportunity to find the things that helps them to flourish. She is passionate about the wider curriculum and the opportunities to broaden children’s horizons so that, regardless of their background, every child has the confidence, knowledge and skills to achieve their goals.
Mrs Rachel Rusling
Headteacher
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Rachel has been in education for almost thirty years and has loved every moment! A graduate of Exeter University with a BA Ed (Hons) degree, specialising in Humanities, Rachel has had extensive Key Stage Two and Three experience having spent many years teaching in the middle school sector, at both Sandford and St. Michael’s Middle Schools for a number of years. In 2012, she decided to dip her toes into the primary age range by joining Baden-Powell and St. Peter’s CE Junior School. Rachel played an integral role in the school’s conversion from middle to junior school in 2013 and was able to draw on her experience of both systems, as well as working in large schools, to help influence and shape Baden-Powell and St. Peter’s CE Junior School into a vibrant community of learning.
Appointed to the role of Headteacher in February 2017, Rachel has continued to lead a highly successful school through her inclusive leadership style; her excellent relationships with the school community; her passion for the right of every child to be happy at school and to thrive. It continues to be an absolute privilege to serve the school!
Mrs Ali Sinclair
Headteacher
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Oakdale Junior School
Ali has been teaching since 2009 having graduated from Loughborough University with a BSc (Hons) degree in Sports Science. Her first teaching post was as a PE teacher and SSCo in a secondary in London which alongside teaching PE, also involved delivering CPD to the local feeder infant and primary schools. In 2012, Ali completed her GTP in Primary Education and has been teaching in Bournemouth and Poole ever since. Ali has extensive experience across both EYFS, KS1 and KS2 as well as whole school curriculum and assessment improvement. In 2018 Ali became the Assistant Headteacher at Winton Primary and in 2021, the Vice Principal of Jewell Academy and is deeply committed to providing a nurturing, inclusive and academically enriching environment for every child.
Ali was appointed Headteacher of Oakdale Junior School in January 2024 and is extremely proud to continue to lead Oakdale’s journey towards excellence as well as being part of, and contributing to, the success of the wider CLP family.
Mr Richard Skinner
Headteacher
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Lulworth and Winfrith CE Primary School
Richard has worked in a handful of schools in the Poole and Dorset area since graduating in 1998. This has included several schools from the Coastal Learning Partnership as well as taking the opportunity to teach overseas in New Zealand. Educationally, Richard’s interests are Science, Maths and P.E
In 2013 Richard moved posts from Old Town Infants to become an Assistant Headteacher at Oakdale Juniors before taking up his current post as Headteacher at Lulworth and Winfrith. Alongside his role at the school, he has also supported other Dorset schools in his role as a School Evaluation Partner for Dorset Council. In addition to this, Richard is Vice Chair of Wessex Association of Leaders in Education, an organisation that promotes and supports the well-being and professional development of local headteachers. As an avid rugby fan, he also coaches age grade rugby for a local rugby club. Richard has been the Headteacher of Lulworth and Winfrith Primary since September 2017.
Mr Lawrence Woodward
Headteacher
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St Clements & St John's CE Infant School and Bethany CE Junior School
Lawrence has a degree in Psychology from University of Aberdeen and postgraduate teaching qualification from Oxford Brookes University. Lawrence has worked in both Oxford and Bournemouth through his teaching career and has taught from most ages from Nursery to Year 6. Lawrence has also worked in three of the Trusts schools: St Clement’s and St John’s, Heathlands Primary Academy and Bethany CE Junior School. Throughout his career, Lawrence has been a KS1 moderator, English coordinator and has supported schools with English in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.
Lawrence has been the Headteacher of Bethany CE Junior School since September 2016. From September 2024 Lawrence will be the Headteacher across two schools – St Clement's & St John's CE Infant School and Bethany CE Junior School.