JJANE GIRLE JAN
TROY JJENKINSON
Hea teacher, Head Pen Penn Wood Primary and Nursery School, Slough
Head tea teacher, Stathern Primary School, Leicestershire
WHAT TYPE OF PERSON ARE YOU?
WHAT TYPE OF PERSON ARE YOU?
In five words? Creative, reflective, determined, floral, bookworm. Most prized possession? My golden retriever Darcy, who is now our school dog. Favourite biscuit? Jammy Dodger. Unmissable TV? Escape to the Country. Top film? The King’s Speech. Favourite song? Circle of Life by Elton John. Best book? Unstoppable by Adrian Gilpin. Who would play you in the film of your life? Jennifer Saunders. Guilty secret? I timed the birth of my first child in 1989 to avoid the implementation of the National Curriculum.
In five words? Bubbly, sociable, outgoing, determined, understanding. Most prized possessions? My photos – they hold lots of fantastic memories for me, of my family, friends and things that I have done. Favourite biscuit? Definitely a cream crunch. Unmissable TV? The Tudors or Doctor Who. Top film? Moulin Rouge. Favourite song? The Way You Look Tonight by Frank Sinatra. Best book? Inconceivable by Ben Elton. Who would play you in the film of your life? Brad Pitt. Guilty secret? I do like the odd gin and tonic of a weekend night, but sometimes the odd one turns into a few more!
COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING SENTENCES
I went into teaching because I’d always enjoyed playing schools as a child, lining up my teddy bears and teaching them. But I was influenced by a fantastic teacher when I did some work experience during my A levels. What was planned as three months of going in once a week turned into 18 months of working in the school (thank you, Julie). My own schooling was great. I loved primary school especially. I had some very creative teachers, we had some amazing residential visits and did loads of exciting topic work. My most embarrassing moment was shortly after I graduated. I worked as a supply teacher during the week and on the delicatessen counter in the local supermarket at the weekends. One weekend, a Year One pupil I had taught the week before saw me and ran the full length of the store shouting “Mr J!”, to the delight of my store colleagues and customers. My leadership style is coaching. I think everyone has the potential to become leaders in their own field, be it becoming part of the middle management or leading and supporting trainee teachers or other support staff. If I’ve learned one thing, it’s that you are never going to please everyone with everything, especially when some tough decisions have to be made. If I were the PM, I’d consider the impact of making huge changes to the education system so quickly. I’d trust teachers as professionals to report pupil progress, rather than making snapshot judgments with out-of-date testing regimes and pressurising inspections. I shouldn’t be telling you this, but I’m a bit of a sucker for fancy dress and partying. My particular favourite costume was a Christmas tree outfit that I spent a whole Saturday morning making out of green felt and tinsel, complete with chocolate baubles and working fairy lights. Tell us your best joke Two snowmen are in a field. One turns to the other, sniffs and says: “Can you smell carrots?”
I went into teaching because I never wanted to be anything other than a teacher from the age of five (and yes, it ran in the family). My own schooling was dramatic. I moved from a rural village school in Devon to large urban primary in Berkshire when I was eight. Disappointingly, the 11-plus separated me from my best friend. It was also compelling, as I had some inspirational teachers, particularly for English and religious studies. My most embarrassing moment was as an NQT during a visit by a drama company. The actors told the teachers that some Aboriginal hunters would make a surprise entrance for the children through the hall curtain. When it happened, no one stirred except me, who let out a piercing scream. All eyes on me! My leadership style is creative. In the words of the author Ian Gilbert, we do what everyone else does but in a different way, or what no one else does. The needs of children drive our actions. If I’ve learned one thing, it’s the importance of the physical environment of a school. We moved into a new, circular, ‘insideoutside’ building in 2007 and it has had a positive impact on achievement, behaviour, self-esteem, engagement of parents and staff morale. If I were the PM, I’d tell Ofsted to accept that some schools with low pupil attainment are good or even outstanding in their provision for pupils. This way, more leaders of schools with great challenges could be recognised as National or Local Leaders of Education. I shouldn’t be telling you this, but we paid £900 to have a camel in school for our Christmas production and I totally believe it was money well spent. Tell us your best joke Two peanuts walking down a subway. One was a salted.
We paid £900 to have a camel in our Christmas play
COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING SENTENCES
MAY/JUNE 2011 ● LEADERSHIP FOCUS
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