Spring 2022

THE CAKE MEETS...
Francesca
Shaw
The Cake meets Francesca Shaw, the new head teacher at Cranbrook Primary School
Francesca was born in
Marden and educated
at Invicta Grammar in
Maidstone and Christ
Church University
in Canterbury. Having spent
some time in Madrid, she
specialised in language teaching
during her university studies.
Francesca started teaching
at Wateringbury Church of
England Primary before joining
Cranbrook Primary in 2017 as
head of English and EYFS/Key
Stage1.
She took over the headship
in January this year and is keen
to maintain the current 'Good'
OFSTED rating. The school
celebrates the achievements of
all pupils, encouraging children
of all abilities and ensuring
children learn to become
individuals, ready to live
independent lives.
Francesca aims to ensure
the wellbeing of children and
staff is high on the agenda, as is
helping parents to understand
how their children are being
taught. To this end, parents are
invited to come to the school
and be taught by their children
how they learn (yes, you read
that right!).
The school is well supported
by a small, dedicated parent
teacher association (PTA)
group who ensure there are
regular events such as a
Christmas Celebration, and
they are now planning the
Coronation Celebration. More
helpers are always welcomed,
and Francesca pointed out the
importance of the school being
in the community, with strong
links to Cranbrook Grammar,
the church and local resources.
The school's Forest School is a
very popular resource, and they
are raising £30,000 to build a
new ‘Sanctuary’ in the grounds.
This will be space for students
to receive counselling, teachers
to spend time with small groups
and 1:1 coaching in a new calm
timber building. Thanks to the
CO-OP 10% of the funding has
already been raised, so dig deep
to help them with the rest!
Francesca and her staff are
‘can-do’ people who are doing a
great job in difficult economic
times to keep children safe and
motivated to learn.
Away from work, Francesca
enjoys discovering new cultures
including trips to India, the USA
and Jordan as well as extensive
travel throughout Europe. She
enjoys tennis and skiing and is a
strong swimmer.
The staff confided that she is
a demon baker of brownies (the
cakes!).
“The school is well supported by a small, dedicated parent
teacher association (PTA) group who ensure there are regular
events such as a Christmas Celebration, and they are now
planning the Coronation Celebration”
42 The Cake • Spring 2023