We were delighted to meet so many of you at our Open Event and Coffee Morning held this week. The highlight of these events was announcing our outstanding Headmistress Designate, Laura Birkett. Thank you to all those who have taken the time to give us such positive feedback.
Laura will be joining Whitehall Park School in May from St John the Baptist C of E Primary School in Hoxton, where she is currently Head of School.
Laura says: “I am absolutely thrilled to be taking up the post of Headmistress at Whitehall Park School. Ahead lays an exciting journey for everyone involved in developing our school as a beacon for learning for the Whitehall Park community. Together, our vision is to ensure we enable every child to thrive and so succeed within a safe, stimulating and welcoming learning environment where learning is fun, engaging and relevant. My ambition for our school is to secure an ethos and culture of excellence that nurtures every child and provides them with the ambition to be a confident, inquisitive and well-rounded learner for life.”
Having worked successfully as a qualified teacher in a number of primary schools across the country, Laura worked for eight years within Bristol and Hackney Local Authorities as a Teaching and Learning consultant. In this role, Laura supported schools and staff with developing and improving practice in order to create the best possible provision for every child.
These years of experience together with her NPQH (National Professional Qualification for Headship) enabled Laura to successfully take on the role of Head at her current school in 2010. Here, she has led her team to work collegially and tirelessly in the transformation of the school from challenging circumstances to a much improved Ofsted rating in April 2013 of ‘Good, with Outstanding Features’, ensuring excellent academic and pastoral outcomes for the children. Laura’s leadership was commended in the Ofsted report: “The school is exceptionally well led by the head of school, who, together with governors, has brought about significant improvement in the quality of teaching and pupils’ achievement since the previous inspection.”
Laura adds: “I am excited about the endless possibilities that lie ahead for all of us on the journey towards ‘Outstanding’ at Whitehall Park. I am keen to work with Bellevue Place Education Trust, parents, carers and the wider community to create a school that will fulfil the dreams and aspirations we all have for the children and enable them to progress through their life journeys as well rounded, happy and secure individuals who have a wide range of experiences, skills and knowledge to draw upon. I am very much looking forward to being a part of your child’s own journey.”
We are confident that Laura's experience, energy and enthusiasm will transform the lives of many children and families in Islington and Haringey.
