Westminster City School

“I have been given a secondment opportunity at Westminster City School to develop my skills further and work on a project with a whole school impact. "With the support of the Headteacher, I identified an area of improvement in the school, specifically the sixth form, and I was encouraged to develop methods to improve this area. I attended all senior leadership meetings and found out first-hand what it took to successfully lead a whole key stage. “The secondment provided me with a balance, where although I was given senior leadership duties, they were scaled back to give me the time and space to learn and gradually develop the skills of a senior leader without it becoming overwhelming. It has been a fantastic and really rewarding experience as I have been well supported by the Headteacher and my senior leader line manager.”

“I enjoy the atmosphere and the enthusiasm of both staff and students at Westminster City School. There is a real community feeling here, everyone is friendly and welcoming. Additionally, it is quite nice to see that the drive to inspire excellence is wholly apparent. “My role is varied and it brings me great joy to be able to have a significant impact on our student’s lives on a daily basis.”

“I arrived at the School in 2018 as an 'unqualified' Teacher of Music. In that time, I had the opportunity to train and obtain my QTS at Westminster City School and as of 2022, I officially became Subject Leader of Music. My responsibilities include the attendance of weekly Middle Leader and termly School Management Group meetings, which gives me the opportunity to contribute ideas from a Music perspective to help develop key areas within the school. “This role allows me to continue teaching the subject that I love, whilst allowing me to develop core leadership skills further. Getting to this successful point in my career within four years was only possible through the initial faith instilled in me by the Headteacher and subsequent line managers, who at every stage supported me in my progression and development.

“Westminster City School is a fantastic place to work and the leadership group have been exceptionally supportive of my teaching career thus far. “I have progressed, over the last five years, from a Teacher of English to KS3 Co-Ordinator of English, to Teacher in Charge of Sociology and to my current role as Subject Leader of English. “Additionally, I was offered the opportunity to partake in a secondment position with the Leadership Group in my fourth year, whereby I completed an NPQSL project; the focus of which was developing a whole school tutor reading programme.”

The school’s Christian ethos and its promotion of cultural diversity permeate all aspects of the school community. Student behaviour is good in and out of lessons and they feel safe.