Meet our Headteachers – Southport Learning Trust

Ian Raikes – CEO Southport Learning Trust

I am proud to be the CEO of Southport Learning Trust since its formation in July 2017 and passionate about improving the life chances of all students in our area. I was the Headteacher of Greenbank High School until August 2021, a high performing secondary school in Southport and approved DFE sponsor since 2017. I am a Geography teacher and have a real interest in sustainability and climate change.

I want students to dream and aspire high and I am Chair of the Liverpool City Region Careers Hub and sit on the national Education Leaders Advisory Group which strategically supports the Department for Education Careers Strategy. Passionate about developing gold standard leaders, I have been a lead deliverer of NPQSL (National Professional Qualification for Senior Leaders) and NPQH (National Professional Qualification for Headteachers) over the past decade. I achieved NPQH and NPQEL (National Professional Qualification for Executive Leadership) in 2020 as a member of the first cohort nationally.

As chair of the Southport Learning Partnership in 20221-22 consisting of all the primary and secondary schools in Southport we have been developing projects related to reading, mental health and wellbeing and equality over the past year. I am a member of Sefton Safeguarding Children Partnership Forum representing local Headteachers and secondary schools on the strategic development of safeguarding and sit on the Digital Skills Board for Sefton to support children in having the necessary skills to progress into the workplace.

As a member of the Governing Body of Sefton SKY Music Hub partnership I support the strategic development of music education in the locality and believe the Arts should be at the heart of the curriculum of all great schools.

I spend any spare time with my wife and four children, three of whom are now in university studying Medicine, Environmental Geography and a Masters in Broadcast Journalism around the country. I have coached junior football for over 25 years and am a passionate Welshman and avid supporter of Cardiff City Football Club, Glamorgan and England cricket and Welsh rugby.

Ruth Braithwaite – Bedford Primary School

I consider it a great privilege to lead the dedicated team of staff here at Bedford Primary School, a role I have undertaken since I was appointed Headteacher in September 2008. By this time, I had already held the position of Deputy Headteacher for five years so I knew that Bedford was a truly special place.

With the skills gained from my experience teaching in another local Sefton primary school, and those gained when working for the School Improvement Team within Knowsley Education Authority, I was ready to make a difference. I was also fully aware of the important role that schools have to play within the communities they serve.

At the heart of our school community is warmth, care, inclusivity and a genuine commitment to each and every child reaching their true and full potential. These values underpin our work and we pride ourselves on our ability to nurture our children to feel safe, cherished and valued as members of ‘Team Bedford’.

I am equally passionate about working closely with the families of our children to ensure that they all have the opportunity to flourish and excel whilst receiving the education they deserve. Our job is to identify each child’s strengths, foster their ambitions and provide them with keys to open doors that lead to opportunity and the futures they deserve. Having worked in education for over 20 years, I know from experience that the best way to achieve this is by establishing strong home-school partnerships.

Bootle has and always will have a special place in my heart – I was born here and have many happy childhood memories of living in the neighbourhood local to school. I am now in the fortunate position to be able to give something back to the community that Bedford serves.

At the end of each school day, my most important job begins. I am the proud mum of three young children (twins included). They certainly are my greatest achievement, they keep me busy and make life one big adventure. When I have a few moments to myself, I also love the arts, football, rugby and running.

Gil Bourgade – Birkdale High School

Since 2014, It has been my privilege to be the Headteacher at Birkdale High School. Although all my education took place in the South of France, I have been a teacher in the North West of England since 1990. I spent a number of years in Oldham before I was appointed as Assistant Headteacher at Greenbank High School in Southport and then Deputy Headteacher at King David High School in Liverpool.

I am immensely proud of the journey of improvement we have embarked on since 2014, which has led to the school being oversubscribed since 2019 and being graded “GOOD” by Ofsted in again in 2017 and 2022, alongside improved educational outcomes.

I am passionate about the benefits of an all-boys setting and firmly believe that this gives us the opportunity to create a truly unique environment that enables all boys, regardless of background, ability, interests or personality, to develop their full potential both academically and personally, free from many gender based prejudices so prevalent in society.

At Birkdale we aim to be leaders in the education of boys and this starts with a clear focus on developing effective teaching pedagogy and not engaging in educational fads or gimmicks. Our Teaching and Learning development is driven by a focus on cognitive science and educational research and our quality assurance of teaching is developmental rather than judgemental. Staff are given the space and support to make positive changes to their practice in a risk-free environment where they share best practice, support and challenge each other.

In the past I have chaired the Southport Learning Partnership as well as SASH and represented secondary headteachers on Sefton’s School Forum and SEND Forum. I currently sit on Sefton’s SCP Safeguarding Forum and represent ASCL on Sefton’s JNC Committee. I am also a trained Ofsted inspector.

In my spare time, I enjoy cycling, skiing and reading and also help to coach my son’s rugby team for Waterloo Rugby Club.

Katy Robinson – Greenbank High School

I joined Greenbank High School in September 2012 as Assistant Headteacher and worked in this role with a focus on Teaching and Learning. In 2016 I became Deputy Headteacher and was delighted to be appointed as Headteacher in September 2022.

I first developed my passion for education whilst teaching primary and secondary pupils in France as part of my university degree course. My teaching career began as a teacher of French and Head of Languages in Stoke-on-Trent where I spent four years. From there I was appointed as Teaching and Learning lead at a school on the Wirral where I spent a further four years leading on Teaching and Learning.

I love to travel and take full advantage of the local area and various visits in the UK and abroad. This passion translates to the numerous school visits I have led with pupils in all schools I’ve worked in, as well as the focus of my educational vision being to ensure that all pupils access a world class education. Bringing the curriculum to life is a key part of our approach and one of the reasons why I am so proud to be Headteacher at Greenbank High School where the staff go above and beyond with all the opportunities they offer the pupils. Greenbank is such a special environment, focussed on making sure every child can reach their potential through high expectations, excellent subject knowledge and a ‘can do’ approach to everything.

I sit on the Southport College and KGV Board of Governors to support the next steps available to our pupils and recently qualified as an OFSTED Inspector to support school improvement for all.

I generally like to get involved and involve staff in new challenges whether rowing, cycling, swimming in the sea or signing up for a competition.

Christina Greaves – Kew Woods Primary School

I have been the Headteacher of Kew Woods Primary School since September 2012. Kew Woods Primary school is a two-form entry school in Southport. 20% of pupils are pupil premium, 23% are free school meals, 26% have special educational needs, 4% have an Educational Health Care Plan and 10% of pupils have EAL. Kew Woods was rated a Good school by Ofsted November 2017 and chose to academise and become part of The Southport Learning Trust on 1st April 2019.

Kew Woods has been awarded the Early Years Quality Mark, ArtsMark Silver, Sports Mark Platinum, National Children’s Bureau Well-being for school’s Award, Anti-Bullying Alliance Gold School Award and is an Apple Regional Training Centre for Technology. Recently, the school was awarded the Optimus SEND Inclusion Award and achieved the Primary Science Quality Mark in September 2021.

Prior to headship I was an Assistant Headteacher of a one-form entry primary school with a nursery class, 6 Local Authority additional resource inclusion bases and a Children’s Centre in Bootle, Merseyside. I was responsible for standards and progress in English and mathematics across the school including the six additional resource inclusion bases for pupils with ASD, speech and language, emotional behaviour difficulties and moderate learning difficulties. Through this experience I have particular strengths in the inclusion of pupils with special educational needs and a strong curriculum knowledge from early years to the end of key stage 2 in the teaching of English and mathematics. I lead the Special Educational Needs and Disabilities, SENDCO, Trust group to support SENDCOs in collaborating effectively across the Trust.

I sit on the In Year Fair Access Panel for Sefton and have been part of the interviewing process for PGCE and QTS students at Edge Hill University. I also sit on Sefton EHCP Panel and am a member of the board of Trustees for the Children’s University.

Davina Aspinall – Maghull High School

It was a real privilege to be appointed as Headteacher of Maghull High School in September 2018 after 13 years as Senior Deputy Headteacher. I was the Chair of Sefton Association of Secondary Headteachers (SASH) in 2021-22.

Students, parents and staff are extremely proud of our relentless drive for excellence at Maghull High School. We seek to instill a culture of aspiration through the delivery of high quality teaching supported by outstanding pastoral care. We have recently achieved the National Quality in Careers Standard and the Wellbeing Award for Schools.

Over the last 25 years I have enjoyed a number of strategic leadership roles, covering a wide range of educational areas in several successful 11-18 schools in Liverpool and Sefton. My teaching specialisms are economics, business studies, computer science and ICT.

I am Mum to Ruby, who loves cats, dogs and Fortnite. As a family, we enjoy going on bike rides, swimming and rollercoaster rides.

Ian Parry- Meols Cop High School

For over 20 years I have been privileged to be a teacher and school leader. I have been fortunate to work with exceptional professionals who have a deep commitment to improving the life chances of young people in schools across the North West. I was fortunate to become the Headteacher of Meols Cop High School in 2019 and feel extremely privileged to work with a talented team of professionals serving an ambitious local community every day.

Meols Cop High School is the heartbeat of the local community. Students have access to a highly skilled staff team nationally recognised for the quality of teaching and learning. A commitment to high impact inclusive education ensures that every student develops the skills and values allowing them to be confident learners and valuable leaders in the local community. Visionary thinking and unique opportunities ensure that students are inspired to make informed decisions about their futures excelling at university, apprenticeship or employment.

As a school leader my career has been focused on creating highly ambitious school cultures in which both students and colleagues can excel. I am committed to evidence-based practice and passionately believe that the quality of our teachers and support staff has the biggest impact on our young people. We are extremely lucky to have skilled and committed colleagues in the schools across Southport Learning Trust with the ability to make our young people achieve the most extraordinary things.

I am fortunate to be the current chair of Southport Association of Secondary Headteachers, a member of both the Regional and National Headteachers Careers Advisory Boards and Lead the Research School in delivering school improvement for Sefton schools.

Growing up and living is Southport gives me a unique insight into the powerful impact education can play in our town and the wider area. We are very fortunate to live in such a beautiful place with so much to offer. A highly ambitious education system will play an essential part of its future in creating ambitious innovators, visionary thinkers and extraordinary pioneers to positively impact our communities.

Jenna Shawe- Stanley High School

I am delighted to have been a part of Stanley High School Leadership since joining as Lead Practitioner of Mathematics in 2011. During my career at Stanley High School I have taken leadership responsibility for curriculum, assessment and teaching and learning. I became Deputy Headteacher in 2019 and took this as an amazing opportunity to learn all I can about leading a school in readiness to be Headteacher. In 2019 I completed my NPQH qualification. I was appointed Headteacher of Stanley High school in September 2022, a role which I am incredibly excited for.

I am invested in the students, staff, families, community and the future of our local area. Having grown up in Southport myself I have a great understanding of the community we live in and the strength of our youth to make a positive difference, not only in the local area but in each other’s lives.

I have high standards and expectations of all around me and I am delighted to be able to continue to raise the aspirations of the students we serve. I have a strong sense of family and community I want to continue to celebrate the achievements and commitments of our students – I believe they truly are amazing.

Raising teenagers is no mean feat, when schools and families work well together through good times and bad, we have the ability to raise well rounded and successful young people ready to take on the challenges and excitement the world has to offer.

Prior to being at Stanley High School I achieved a first class bachelor’s degree in Mathematics Education, I enjoyed teaching mathematics in a Lancashire Secondary school before moving to a lead a mathematics department in Blackpool at a national challenge school.

I have spent a number of summers working in orphanages across India and recruiting volunteers to do the same, taking the opportunity to learn about education systems across the globe allows us to create the best systems and practices at home.

Beyond school I have my hands full with two awesome young children who love family days out, crafting and adventure.