What our people say

Working for the trust has helped my career go from strength to strength. I have been fortunate to work in two trust schools. Both environments have allowed me to grow as a leader and as a person. I have been challenged and supported to be the best version of myself everyday. It is a pleasure to work for such a caring and forward-thinking organisation. I’m excited by what the future holds.

Teaching is the best job in the world. Being able to change lives, leading future generations is a privilege and a role that I haven’t taken lightly. I have always enjoyed providing the children with the very best opportunities both inside and outside of the classroom. The sports fixtures, trips abroad, visits and wider curriculum have hopefully allowed the school community to see what life is like beyond the school gates. I have enjoyed watching the children develop and grow, consistently improving during their at school. In all honesty, coming to school every day hasn’t seemed like a job, it is a way of life.


Holyrood Academy was the beginning. I’ve had a passion and love for Music for as long as I can remember and being thrown in at the deep end as an UQT for Music at a school that was safe and familiar, was a lovely way to start. I discovered my love for teaching alongside colleagues who had once been my own teachers and important role models. I completed my teacher training at Uffculme School and the care, guidance and friendship I received from the Performing Arts department and teaching school, changed my life. It opened my eyes to new, innovative and creative ways of teaching and learning.

Having just embarked on my third year of teaching at Axe Valley Academy, I have come to realise how special this school is. It has also helped me realise that I am capable of running a department and how important it is to have a strong team of colleagues who are also friends. My journey of starting with familiarity, learning under expertise and creativity and now taking sole responsibility for the teaching of Music at AVA, has shaped me as a person and I have achieved things I never thought I was capable of. It’s not the end of my story (because who knows what is?) but it is certainly where I plan to stay and hopefully continue to spread joy, peace and ultimately love of Music and the Performing Arts. 


I have returned back here at Holyrood, which is no surprise as it has always had a special place in my heart...it feels like coming home. I have been very fortunate to begin in a role that is new to the school and I have been given the autonomy to shape this role to how I see beneficial for the students in my care. My aspirations for the role have always been supported at line management and Senior Leader level and the input I have received around training and professional development has been significant. I feel proud to be here and to serve a community that is special to me. 


Being part of BEP has allowed me to work with lots of very talented professionals. I feel really privileged to be part of a trust which believes in every child and empowers staff to provide young people with the best possible opportunities. Professionally and on a personal level, I have been guided and supported to go from strength to strength and be the happiest I have ever been at work.

I absolutely love coming to Holyrood every day and feel very fortunate to be part of this amazing community.


Having trained at Axe Valley as part of my PGCE, I immediately felt welcome and was delighted to accept my first teaching post here. The support I received in my early career gave me the perfect opportunity to ‘learn my trade’ in an experienced department, and I am really grateful for that positive experience at the start of my teaching career.

After 2 years of teaching, I moved schools to a promotion which I believe was possible so quickly due to the support and confidence that Axe Valley had given me.

A few years later, circumstances meant that I was looking to move schools again, and when an opportunity arose to return to Axe Valley, I jumped at the chance.

I feel privileged to be a teacher at Axe Valley and to work with excellent colleagues and students every day.