Friday 29 March 2019
The transformation of secondary education has taken a major step forward as the Committee for Education, Sport & Culture appoints two headteachers as Designate Principals of the two new 11-18 colleges.
Vicky Godley, current Headteacher of La Mare De Carteret High School, and Kieran James, current Acting Headteacher of the Grammar School and Sixth Form Centre, will take up their new Designate Principal roles in September 2019.
Mrs Godley came to Guernsey with her family in September 2011 to the post of Deputy Headteacher at La Mare de Carteret High school. Her previous experience includes a variety of senior leadership roles in mixed ability schools in Sheffield and Manchester, as well as working as a lead inspector for OFSTED. By April 2012 Vicky was promoted to Headteacher of La Mare de Carteret, leading the school through significant change over the following years. Mrs Godley will be Designate Principal of La Mare De Carteret High School and Les Beaucamps High School, and from September 2020 will lead the College operating at Les Beaucamps and La Mare until education ceases at the latter in summer 2022.
Mr James, educated locally, was previously Deputy Headteacher and Director of Sixth Form Studies at the Grammar School & Sixth Form Centre, before taking up his position as Acting Headteacher in September 2018. He has over 20 years' experience teaching in schools in England and further afield in New Zealand, Portugal and the Solomon Islands, before returning to teach in Guernsey in 2005. Mr James will be Designate Principal of Les Varendes and St Sampson's High School, taking leadership of the College operating at both sites in September 2020 until education ceases at Les Varendes in summer 2023.
Under the transition plans announced by the Committee last year, from September 2021 all Year 7 students will enter one of the new Colleges at Les Beaucamps or St Sampson's
Deputy Matt Fallaize, President of the Committee for Education, Sport & Culture, said:
"These appointments are a critical step in the development of our secondary education model based on two 11-18 colleges operating as one school. Vicky and Kieran will continue to work closely with Liz Coffey, the Executive Headteacher, to shape and develop the future vision and operating model of the new school."
Mrs Coffey, Executive Headteacher, said:
"I am pleased to see the staffing structure of the new school take a major step forward with these appointments. It is important that the leadership of the new school shapes the future staffing structure and curriculum model, as part of one school."
Mrs Godley, Headteacher of La Mare De Carteret High School, said:
"I am thrilled to achieve the role of Designate Principal within the new transformational schools framework. It presents an exciting challenge where I will continue to work hard for island children. I look forward to working with colleagues, parents and students to ensure we maintain high quality learning experiences which create opportunity and ambition for all of our young people."
Mr James, Acting Headteacher of the Grammar School and Sixth Form Centre, said:
"I am delighted to be part of the team leading the transformation of Secondary and Post-16 Education. This is an exciting time and an enormous opportunity for education locally, and I look forward greatly to the development of One School in two colleges that will be great places in which to learn and to work. I am committed to ensuring continuity and a smooth transition for our students and staff, and to enabling them to make the most of the opportunities it presents."
