Helen Ashworth

Head of School — Secondary, 11–18

helen.ashworth@example.com+44 7700 900617Sheffield, United Kingdomhttps://helenashworth.education

Twenty years in state secondary education, six as a head. I took an 1,100-pupil comprehensive from “requires improvement” to “good with outstanding leadership” without changing the intake, and I still teach a Year 11 set every week.

+0.51Progress 8, from −0.19 in 2019
78%Grade 4+ in English and maths
94.8%Attendance, from 89.1%
1,100Pupils · 96 staff · £7.2m budget

Experience

Headteacher · Wellmere AcademySep 2019 — Present

1,100 pupils · 96 staff · £7.2m budget

  • Ofsted “good” in 2023 with outstanding leadership and management, up from “requires improvement”.
  • Rebuilt the curriculum on a five-year model and cut teacher contact time to fund faculty planning.
  • Balanced the budget from a £340k in-year deficit while protecting teaching posts.
Deputy Head (Curriculum) · Brackenfield HighSep 2015 — Aug 2019

1,400 pupils · Timetable & assessment

  • Owned timetable, assessment and options for 1,400 pupils; introduced the trust's first shared mock schedule.
  • Led the maths faculty turnaround — Progress 8 in maths from −0.4 to +0.2 in three years.
Head of Science → Assistant Head · Brackenfield HighSep 2008 — Aug 2015
  • Ran a faculty of eleven; triple science uptake doubled across the period.

Education

Sheffield Hallam University

M.Ed., Educational Leadership

2012 — 2014

Durham University

B.Sc., Chemistry, with PGCE

2002 — 2006

Skills

LeadershipExpert

School improvementCurriculum designBudget and staffing

AccountabilityExpert

Ofsted frameworkProgress 8Safeguarding (DSL)

Certifications

National Professional Qualification for Headship (NPQH)

DfE

2018

Ofsted Inspector (Additional)

Ofsted

2022

Languages

EnglishNative
FrenchConversational

More

Beyond the school

Trustee, Peak Learning Partnership

Multi-academy trust, four secondaries

2021

Mentor, NPQH cohort 12

Teaching school hub

2023

Helen Ashworth · Head of School — Secondary, 11–18 · https://helenashworth.education