DNEAT MAT News

Four new headteachers have been appointed to three Academies within the Unity Federation, part of Diocese of Norwich Education and Academies Trust (DNEAT).

Miss Suzannah Hayes was appointed as Executive Head Teacher across Unity Federation of Church and Community Primary Academies that include Colkirk Church of England Primary Academy, Little Snoring Community Primary Academy and Sculthorpe Church of England Primary Academy in September 2022.

Previously Miss Hayes was Co-Head Teacher at Bridges Federation near King’s Lynn she said: “I have worked in Norfolk my whole teaching career having moved back here after going to university. Our aspirations for the schools are around making sure that all children in our care thrive and have the best possible chance in life. Our strapline of Have Faith, Flourish and Fly High permeates through everything we do. It has been an absolute pleasure to start to get to know all the children and the wider school communities. So much change all at once is always a challenge but we have a fantastic team who are all focussed on getting the best possible outcomes for all the children.”

Miss Hannah Burrell joined Colkirk Church of England Primary Academy in September 2022 as Head of School and she is also teaching the year 4/5/6 class 2 days a week.

Previously she taught in a small school just outside of King’s Lynn which was part of a three- school Federation.  She said: “I am very familiar with the setup of a Federation and I love how closely we can work together. I was a teacher in year 5 and 6 as well as SENCo across the 3 schools in our Federation.  I found both roles to be rewarding. I love the community feel already at Colkirk and I would love to grow those community links further.”

She added: “I think the beauty of a small school is you really feel like a family because fortunately we have the capacity to get to know all of the children and families despite not always teaching them. I am really hoping we can enable the children at Colkirk to really thrive in their learning, keep achieving their personal targets and flourish with all other areas of their lives!”

Mrs Jessica Woodrow joined Little Snoring Church of England Primary Academy in April as Head of School. Previously she worked for 12 years in a large primary school in King’s Lynn in various roles including Assistant Head Teacher and acting Deputy Head Teacher.

She said: “I am thrilled to be working as part of the team across Unity Federation to develop our curriculum and create fantastic opportunities for our children, so they flourish, developing a lifelong love of learning.”

Mrs Michelle Pye was appointed Head of School at Sculthorpe CE Primary Academy in April 2022 and was warmly welcomed by children, families, staff and governors.

Mrs Pye said: “I previously worked in both large and small, faith and non-faith, urban and rural schools and as a result thoroughly understand the challenges and opportunities that schools face in today’s education climate. Taking up this post I have relocated from Northamptonshire where I had been a Headteacher of a small rural primary school for sixteen years. Whilst gaining considerable experience in leadership and management I also maintained a teaching commitment.”

Oliver Burwood said: “We are delighted to have secured such a strong leadership team at Unity Federation, and we look forward to working together to ensure the best possible education for children that attend. DNEAT has shown that small schools can flourish when they are well led and supported and has a strong track record of improving these schools over time.”