This page contains a Flash digital edition of a book.
INTERVIEW


By the Dart INTERVIEW


MARK OAKSHOTT


Interview by Giles Nuttall EXECUTIVE HEADTEACHER OF KINGSWEAR


PRIMARY SCHOOL M


ark Oakshott has been at the helm of Kingswear Primary


school for over ten years. A Devon boy himself, a career in teaching in the area was one that he had planned for early on. “I’ve always been in Devon,” says Mark. “I went to Ivybridge, Manor Way Primary and then to Ivybridge Community College. I’ve always wanted to stay in Devon and luckily I’ve been able to do just that.” Mark’s career began with a three


year stint in a middle school in exeter, teaching at both primary and secondary levels. From there he moved on to Bovey tracey to take a senior leadership post for 5 years. His next step was to do the MPQH – the head teacher qualification – and, having achieved this, he took on his first role as a head master at Kingswear Primary school. “I didn’t actually know where Kingswear was when I applied,” says Mark. “I knew of Dartmouth and I had spoken to an advisor about the school when I saw it advertised. I came to have a look and it was quite quirky and I thought I could do the job. I just loved the location – I thought it was fantastic.” It wasn’t long after arriving in Kingswear that Mark began to implement a series of changes with the aim of improving the school’s reputation and results. “the biggest


thing for us in terms of change was to convert from two to three classes, as there were only two existing classes. We managed to do this and also managed to move some staff on who were having quite a negative impact on the school. I was then able to appoint my own staff which made a huge difference. “Within a couple of years of coming here we went into our first Ofsted inspection. We were awarded ‘good’ overall and ‘outstanding’ for behaviour which was brilliant. three years later we had another Ofsted


“the issue of pupil numbers


remains an ever-present trial for Mark and his team.”


inspection and received the same results. “the new set of staff allowed us


a fresh start, and with this small team we’ve been able to move very quickly. there are three teachers, five learning assistants and myself. I teach a little bit. But my position has changed over the last year.” In 2012 Kingswear Primary school joined ‘Our school Federation’. the federation consists of four local primary schools: Kingswear, Blackawton, Allington and stoke Fleming. “the reason we joined them is because we didn’t want to


be isolated anymore,” says Mark. “We wanted to work very closely with that partnership of schools. “the governors decided to join


the federation – it was a formal federation. so we put our budgets in together so that our buying power is increased. And we are able to work with staff on CPD issues – so we have teams of teachers working together to improve teaching and learning.” As well as creating new opportunities of development for the school, the move altered the nature of Mark’s own position within the school. since september this year he began working with another head teacher as co- executives in charge of the four local schools, spending two days a week in Kingswear and two days at another school within the federation. “For my career that has been


really exciting. What it has also allowed us to do is develop staff from within. I have promoted Jess Alford to Head of school – so in my absence she is leading the school. It develops her own leadership skills and she is superb. “Working in the federation has been a real success. We can really share our expertise and make our money go further, which, in this very difficult time education-wise, can


67


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68  |  Page 69  |  Page 70  |  Page 71  |  Page 72  |  Page 73  |  Page 74  |  Page 75  |  Page 76  |  Page 77  |  Page 78  |  Page 79  |  Page 80  |  Page 81  |  Page 82  |  Page 83  |  Page 84  |  Page 85  |  Page 86  |  Page 87  |  Page 88  |  Page 89  |  Page 90  |  Page 91  |  Page 92  |  Page 93  |  Page 94  |  Page 95  |  Page 96  |  Page 97  |  Page 98  |  Page 99  |  Page 100  |  Page 101  |  Page 102  |  Page 103  |  Page 104  |  Page 105  |  Page 106  |  Page 107  |  Page 108  |  Page 109  |  Page 110  |  Page 111  |  Page 112  |  Page 113  |  Page 114  |  Page 115  |  Page 116  |  Page 117  |  Page 118  |  Page 119  |  Page 120  |  Page 121  |  Page 122  |  Page 123  |  Page 124  |  Page 125  |  Page 126  |  Page 127  |  Page 128  |  Page 129  |  Page 130  |  Page 131  |  Page 132