Leaders of the future - itslearning

I joined Manchester Academy in 2008, having
taught in a Performing Arts Community College
in Tameside for nine years. The perception that
my colleagues had on hearing that I was going
to teach at an academy in Moss Side was the
total opposite of what I found on my initial
visit. In short, I was hugely impressed by the
academy.
Students were appreciative of their teachers and support
staff. There was no shade of grey in terms of expectations of
behaviour, uniform and respect for each other. It was clear that
teachers were valued for their subject knowledge. I overheard a
member of the senior leadership team reminding a student that
they had an important responsibility as a learner.
I decided then and there that this was the academy for me.
Developing leaders in education
Some of the most inspiring
young people I have ever met
By Shola Rashford
Since joining the academy, I have benefited from teaching
some of the most inspiring young people I have ever met in my
teaching career and from being a member of a team that shares
the same objective: to bring out the best in everyone. The senior
leadership team promotes respect for all teachers and support
staff. This affects the way in which students respond to you in
the classroom. I feel that our individual strengths as teachers
are recognised, and we are encouraged to know and work to
our strengths. This, in itself, promotes sharing best practice.
In September 2010, I became Key Stage 3 Director. My role is
to guide and monitor students’ progress across the Key Stage,
as well as to play a vital role in ensuring that students are
supported pastorally. The academy’s belief that we should grow
and develop our experience has enhanced my new role.
Manchester Academy has translated its ambition to grow
leaders by encouraging my professional development. I have
been able to work alongside specialists in our Deaf Unit at the
academy and am presently studying British Sign Language (BSL)
NVQ Level 3, which will lead to my achieving a Level 4 NVQ in
Interpreting (BSL/English). It is wonderfully satisfying to be able
to communicate mathematics as a subject to my deaf students.
This is a testament to the academy’s insistence that there should
be no barriers to students’ learning. This year I have embarked
upon an MA in Educational Leadership and Innovation at
Warwick University; the programme is offered through ULT as
part of its commitment to CPD.
A belief that students can and will achieve, a policy of ‘no
excuses’, hard work from teachers and support from parent,
carers and leadership have led to the academy being declared
‘outstanding’ by Ofsted last year. I know that if I hadn’t joined
Manchester Academy, I probably never would have had the
opportunity to contribute to an outstanding school and to give so
many young people hope to achieve their greatest ambitions.
Shola Rashford is Key Stage 3 Director at Manchester
Academy.
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