Working hard to give pupils the best start

Andrew Galbraith, headteacher at Ebor Academy Filey, is one of three talented headteachers who began work in September 2015 to turnaround schools in the north that are facing some of the toughest challenges.
Ebor Academy Filey deputy head Andy Crisp, left,  and headteacher Andrew Galbraith.Ebor Academy Filey deputy head Andy Crisp, left,  and headteacher Andrew Galbraith.
Ebor Academy Filey deputy head Andy Crisp, left, and headteacher Andrew Galbraith.

The other heads include Allie Denholm at South Shields Community School, South Shields and Jonathan Logan at Workington Academy, Workington in the North West.

All the headteachers were successfully recruited to join the Government’s flagship Talented Leaders programme which supports schools, predominantly in rural, coastal and deprived areas, where it can be hard to find great leaders who can give all their students an excellent education.

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Strong leadership and high-quality teaching in schools is vital to improving outcomes for pupils, particularly for the most disadvantaged children. In some parts of the North East last year, children in secondary and primary schools performed below the national average.

The new heads are working together, and with other schools in the area, to share knowledge and expertise, spread excellence and help raise levels of attainment across the region.

Mr Galbraith who moved from his role as deputy headteacher in Liverpool, said: “I’m a part of Talented Leaders because I want to see all young people in the North East going to great schools. As the new head of Ebor Academy Filey, I’m working hard to ensure our children receive a high quality education which inspires them, raises aspirations and prepares them for life after school.”

Mr Galbraith originally committed to the school for at least three years but this is a permanent position and he has already relocated to the area, buying a house on the outskirts of the town to ensure long-term sustainable improvements are made.

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In addition to securing a new headteacher, the academy have made permanent the position of Andy Crisp as deputy headteacher. Mr Crisp joined Ebor Academy Filey in September from an outstanding school in York to lead on teaching and learning having previously worked with the school as a Specialist Leader in Education.

He commented: “On leaving my present school I know there will be challenges but I am very excited about the opportunity to help Ebor Academy Filey on its journey towards becoming an outstanding centre of learning and a source of pride for the community.”

Mr Galbraith added: “I am delighted to be able to secure high quality teachers such as Andy for the school. Hopefully this will help parents to see that this is about long-term sustainable improvements for the school. He has been teaching 24 years, starting his career in Suffolk before moving to Yorkshire and working is schools in Easingwold, Knaresborough and York. He is an outstanding English teacher and Assistant Principal Examiner for AQA English”.