The Stockwood Park Academy

My TSPA journey began in September 2012 when I joined as a ‘Cover Supervisor’. Throughout my time at Stockwood I have had amazing opportunities to progress in a variety of roles. My current role of ‘Associate Assistant Principal’ working alongside an amazing pastoral team who work tirelessly to provide the best possible care and support to staff and students. My route into teaching has been slightly different to most as I gained my Degree and QTS whilst working at TSPA who supported me through it all. The advice and guidance I have been offered over the years has been incredible and I wouldn’t be where I am today without many of the staff who have helped me along the way. I am privileged to have worked alongside some fantastic and inspirational colleagues. Stockwood Park is a special place with fantastic students who are at the heartbeat of everything we do.

I joined Stockwood Park in September and knew I’d made the right decision straight away. We had a full day’s induction in July and I was greeted by the school receptionist with ‘Welcome to the family’. The staff echo this attitude with kind words to each other in the corridors. Classrooms have an open-door policy and every member of staff from ECT to Headteacher is open to receiving and giving advice to support us in our drive for excellence. The student body is so friendly; there is always a ‘Hello Miss, how’s your day’ while I’m on break or lunch duty. It’s a really exciting time at the Academy as we embed the TSPA Playbook, a structure to frame teaching and learning. We’ve made so much progress so far and I’m looking forward to the year ahead.

I joined The Stockwood Park Academy in 2018 as a Head of Department and very quickly progressed to Head of Year in KS4. In 2022 I then joined the Senior Leadership Team, as Associate Assistant Principal, leading on Literacy and the Quality of Education for SEND. I am now an Assistant Principal, working within the Quality of Education team, with additional responsibilities for supporting whole school Literacy and struggling readers. TSPA has given me the confidence and skills to progress my career, supporting me with invaluable CPD; I have developed my classroom practice significantly through the internal CPD as well as my leadership skills, through the NPQSL and SLE training. What makes The Stockwood Park Academy a great place to work is the culture of the school – there is a shared sense of belonging amongst staff, students and the community. The staff body understands our purpose and our desire for the vision of the school and we work as a team to support the young people we serve. Above all, the students make TSPA; I have the pleasure of working with such a loyal body of young people who embrace our culture of excellence, responsibility and compassion.

“This September marked the beginning of my third year at The Stockwood Park Academy. My journey from classroom teacher to middle leader has been one of immense professional and personal growth. What has always impressed me about the school is the unwavering support and myriad of opportunities available to staff. Hard work, talent, and innovation are not merely acknowledged but are genuinely celebrated and nurtured here. The leadership team is attuned to recognising potential and avidly champion those who aspire to progress in their careers, whether through promotion, further education, or the undertaking of new, innovative projects within the school. Our profound commitment to creating an inclusive environment, where every individual feels valued and embraced, is equally noteworthy. Regardless of background, ability, or identity, there’s a conscious and concerted effort to ensure that everyone can find their place, share their voice, and thrive without hindrance. The initiatives and policies implemented to uphold these values have, in turn, shaped a community where difference is something to be celebrated. It has been an absolute pleasure to work alongside so many dedicated colleagues in our shared pursuit to improve the lives of the wonderful young people we serve.”

Since joining The Stockwood Park Academy in September, and even prior to my arrival, I have been absolutely staggered by how friendly this school is. While I could describe how colleagues have been exceptionally supportive, I think it’s most important to note just how lovely our students are because it is so refreshing to join a school and feel welcomed by the young people. This has a lot to do with the trusting nature of our students, but also the warm approach to behaviour management advocated and encouraged by the leadership. As an English teacher it has also been amazing to see a school which has not only said it will raise the profile of reading, but is acting upon its word. All students regularly receive books as gifts and the emphasis on reading for pleasure is very strong. The renovations to the academy library and investment in specific reading programmes have made it clear that reading is valued here and is a priority. I have found the leadership team to be highly involved at all levels with a great presence throughout the academy – from break duty to teaching; there’s a strong sense that we are all working together which is not always the case in other schools.

I joined Stockwood Park Academy as an NQT, and over the last 3 years I have been incredibly supported in my personal and professional development by colleagues at all levels within the academy and in the trust. TSPA has an amazing tendency to invest time and effort into its staff and support them in their career progression. I have benefitted from this as well, completing my NQT induction, completing an NPQ, successfully applying for a teaching and learning role, and also in becoming Head of Department. Hand in hand with this is the fantastic focus on teaching and learning that the academy has adopted. Frequent drop ins, top class CPD, a dedicated teaching and learning team, and a supportive framework for lessons has ensured that my practice has developed significantly during my time here, and will keep doing so. The staff body is incredibly supportive and friendly here at TSPA, with everyone looking out for each other and leadership team members are always visible and supportive over everything, no matter how small. All of this combined with the pastoral team who ensure that teaching can be as effective as possible, means that you can really see the difference that the work of the academy makes to our not just to our students, who are hardworking and incredibly personable, but also within the community too, notably through the TSPA Iftar events. There is nothing dull about TSPA, with rich and exciting curriculums, passionate educators, and diverse backgrounds and experiences of staff and students alike, and sometimes I find the students teach me.