Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Timeline
Alison Gormally

Alison Gormally

Mawdesley,Lancashire

Summary

A highly effective, inspirational and innovative Education Leader and consultant with over 25 years of Senior Leadership experience in secondary schools, 10 as a Headteacher. A driven and highly accomplished school improvement specialist delivering robust and well planned strategies to support schools to thrive and progress. A collaborative leader who thrives on challenge and develops Teams who are motivated to drive up standards in schools. A goal orientated systems leader with extensive experience of working at Regional and National level to develop an impactful Education Strategy. A highly experienced staff development leader with expertise in delivering NPQs, ECF and ITT provision. A passionate believer in the transformative power of staff development and an inspirational and experienced speaker at National and Regional conferences. A creative leader who has extensive and successful experience of recruiting and retaining talented professionals through innovative approaches to staff Workload and Wellbeing. An education leader who has expertise in building inspirational, innovative school leaders who can deliver exceptional education provision for children and young people.

Overview

33
33
years of professional experience
8
8

Headteacher

Work History

Education Leadership Consultant

Self employed Director of Leadershiip Ltd
Chorley, Lancashire
01.2024 - Current
  • Work strategically with education institutions to identify and respond to their organisational needs
  • Support and advise schools with their strategic self evaluation and improvement plans
  • provide training and guidance for systems leaders in how to create an 'oustanding' organisation
  • work with schools to identify creative and efficient solutions to recruitment and retention issues
  • support school leaders in developing impactful workload and wellbeing strategies
  • provide training for education leaders and other education professionals in strategic school improvement
  • support and provide strategies for systems leaders in impactful budget management
  • provide coaching and mentoring for Headteachers and Senior Leaders
  • Provide school improvement training for Governors

Headteacher of secondary school

Golborne High School
Wigan, Greater Manchester
01.2016 - 12.2023
  • Strategically led the school to an 'oustanding' judgement in January 2023.
  • Led the school to be categorised by the DFE as 'well above average' on all measures for the last 5 years.
  • Grew the school from an undersubscribed organisation of 830 to the most oversubscribed school in the area with a PAN of 1150.
  • Founded Trinity Teaching Alliance to offer ITT,ECF,NPQ across Wigan and the wider Region.
  • Lead school in Wigan for Generate Teaching School Hub offering over 300 NPQS and 400 ECF places across the last 2 years.
  • Member of Wigan's School Improvement Board offering strategic support to schools in a category.
  • Secondary Headteacher representative on the Executive Steering Group for the Greater Manchester Learning Partnership, Education and Employability Board and CEO and Trust Leaders Board.
  • Delivered bespoke strategic, school to school support to schools and MATs across the wider North West Region.
  • Member of the Wigan Education Partnership Board, Health and Wellbeing Board and Executive Headteacher Board.
  • Regional Lead for Lancashire and Yorkshire for the DFE Workload Toolkit revision.
  • Key note speak at regional and National conferences for Generate TSH, PiXL and Whole Education on Workload and wellbeing and systems leadership.
  • Led and motivated teaching and support staff to continuously improve knowledge and abilities for optimum student education and support.
  • Optimised student educational strategies with clear advice on course choices, progression and career options.
  • Integrated approaches to modernise and streamline programme operations, maintaining financial solvency and improving student performance.
  • Used innovative strategies to recruit and retain high quality teaching and support staff.
  • Spearheaded community fundraisers and cultivated partnerships to increase programme revenue.
  • Analysed programme trends to identify areas of improvement and recommended corrective actions.
  • Collaborated with parents and teaching staff on strategies to reduce disruptive behavioural incidents.
  • Established and optimised programme schedules to cover planned needs.
  • Strengthened community engagement strategies to boost programme outreach.
  • Trained Governors to become challenging support partners who impacted on the organization's improvement journey.

Senior Deputy Headteacher

Golborne High School
Wigan, Greater Manchester
09.2008 - 01.2016
  • Deputised for the Headteacher in their absence
  • DSL and Safeguarding and Inclusion lead
  • Updated student safeguarding files and maintained confidentiality of digital and physical documents.
  • Organised safeguarding team calendars to meet academic and training requirements.
  • Improved reporting procedures to speed up recording and processing of safeguarding concerns.


  • Strategically led the teaching and learning and staff development strands of the School Improvement Plan
  • NPQSL/ML facilitator for Edge Hill from 2012
  • Strategically led and managed the school's HR policies and procedures
  • Meticulously monitored and evaluated school performance metrics from National, Regional and school data to drive up standards on a weekly basis.
  • Led selection and appointment of teaching and non-teaching staff over 8 years.
  • Determined and implemented challenging and inspirational curriculum and guidelines, ensuring high quality resources and support were consistently readily available to students and teachers.
  • Modernised instructional plans and educational approaches to enhance student learning.
  • Led and motivated teaching and support staff to continuously improve knowledge and abilities for optimum student education and support.
  • Spearheaded community fundraisers and cultivated partnerships to increase programme revenue.
  • Analysed programme trends to identify areas of improvement and recommended corrective actions.
  • Strategically led and managed the school's appraisal and capability policy
  • Created and implemented dynamic development strategies to aid staff and student growth and achievement.
  • Maintained thorough student safeguarding through [Action], ensuring best-possible pupil wellbeing and care.
  • Built and maintained exceptional working relationships with organisations including PiXL, further education providers, Research Schools, the Local Authority .

Secondary CPD Partnership Co-ordinator [ 2 day sec

Edge Hill University
Ormskirk, West Lancashire
05.2011 - 10.2011
  • Identified the CPD needs in the secondary sector in Wigan and designed bespoke training programmes
  • Delivered high quality CPD to networks across Wigan and the wider Region
  • Recruited over 200 staff in Wigan to the MA in Education Leadership.
  • Founded the Wigan Teaching and Learning Steering Group responsible for sharing best practice across the Borough
  • Organised 3 Regional conferences on innovative and inspirational teaching and learning.
  • Collaborated with National and Regional experts to deliver the most 'current' educational theory at a local level.
  • Enhanced project transparency and accountability with rigorous evaluation and record-keeping.
  • Maintained project schedules by managing deadlines and adjusting workflows to suit.
  • Collaborated with project teams in gathering user requirements and developing project plans.
  • Maximised communication and transparency between clients, internal departments and stakeholders.

Assistant Headteacher

Golborne High School
Golborne, Greater Manchester
09.2004 - 09.2008
  • Strategic lead for Teaching and Learning ,quality assurance and staff development.
  • Led the KS3 National Strategy , ensuring statutory requirements were met and innovative and impactful implementation led to significantly improved performance outcomes.
  • Provided targeted support within under performing curriculum areas through rigorous quality assurance and rapid intervention, targeted support, resulting in KS4 outcomes rising to inline with or above National. .
  • Modelled excellent teaching standards when delivering English across the age and ability spectrum [11-16] classes.
  • Monitored, evaluated and improved quality of teaching across school through robust and rigorous systems with targeted and swift intervention.
  • Improved quality of Education provision for all learners through high quality intervention , leading to outcomes for learners improving year on year.
  • Managed performance of 20 teachers, including TLR leaders, through regular accountability meetings and appropriate and targeted support.
  • Directed high level research by collaborating with partners at a local, Regional and National level.
  • Facilitated workshops, tutorials and seminars with opportunities to stimulate students' critical thinking and analysis.
  • Presented at local and Regional conferences and seminars to share research.
  • Planned, coordinated and executed research projects to gain insight into how to raise standards in disadvantaged boys.
  • Modernised syllabus, updating with current research, new techniques, and latest findings to improve relevancy.

Assistant Headteacher

Mansfield High School
Brierfield, Lancashire
04.2003 - 09.2004
  • Strategic lead for the National Strategy
  • Strategic lead for quality assurance at subject level
  • Acting SENCO
  • HAP co-ordinator
  • Lancashire project lead for raising the performance of Asian Heritage boys in examination
  • Faculty Leader for English and Humanities


Head of English Faculty

Mansfield High School
Brierfield, Lancashire
08.1996 - 04.2003
  • Designed, led and implemented the curriculum in English, Drama and Media
  • Introduced robust systems of quality assurance and targeted support to raise standards across the Faculty
  • Forensically analyzed internal, local and National data to identify patterns and trends
  • Led and managed a Team of 15 staff with responsibility for Performance Management
  • Led the improvement strategy for the Faculty resulting in it becoming the highest performing English Department in Lancashire
  • Implemented and monitored intervention packages for underachieving cohorts of pupils which were adopted across the Region.
  • Maintained the Faculty budget, maximising resources whilst minimising costs.
  • Collaborated with professionals at Local, Regional and National level to develop teaching and learning strategies to improve pupil outcomes.
  • Led and motivated teaching and support staff to continuously improve knowledge and abilities for optimum student education and support.
  • Hired and mentored well-qualified job applicants for teaching and support staff roles, boosting examination success.
  • Acted a s amentor and subject lead for NQTs and student teachers.
  • Delivered CPD at whole staff and Faculty level.
  • Collaborated with parents and teaching staff on strategies to reduce disruptive behavioural incidents.
  • Trained staff in adapting teachings to suit students with diverse needs.
  • Supported classroom teacher in monitoring, assessing and recording students progress.
  • Offered guidance and advice to parents on educational and social matters relating to SEN students.
  • Supported administrators in developing inclusive Special Educational Needs policies.
  • Monitored students response to learning activities and modified appropriately to achieve intended learning outcomes.
  • Ran training sessions and supported all staff in understanding needs of SEN pupils.
  • Set clear short-term and long-term goals to help SEN student progression.
  • Built and maintained positive relationships with students and families, meeting evolving care demands.
  • Advised on required budgets to meet Special Educational Needs provisions.
  • Coordinated and implemented individualised learning programmes to meet student needs.
  • Generated ongoing assessments of student achievement through formal and informal testing.

Assistant Head of English

Southlands High School
Chorley, Lancashire
09.1994 - 08.1996
  • Led and managed the KS 3 English Curriculum
  • Designed and Implemented Schemes of Work for all pupils at KS 3
  • Created quality assurance systems and processes to hold staff to account
  • Rigorously tracked and monitored in-house school data and compared it to National and local data
  • Designed and implemented the Drama curriculum across Key Stage 3 and 4
  • Examiner for Welsh Board Higher Tier English Literature GCSE
  • Collaborated across Departments to develop impactful intervention strategies with identified cohorts of underachievers


  • Directed whole school productions
  • Led the educational visits initiative in school

Teacher of English

Southlands High School
Chorley, Lancashire
09.1990 - 09.1994
  • Mainscale teacher responsibilities
  • Acted as Head of English on 2 occasions to cover staff absence
  • Applied various classroom management techniques, such to maintain discipline whilst developing confidence, language and behaviour.
  • Attended weekly meetings and parent's evenings, consistently encouraging parental involvement to boost student performance.
  • Increased student engagement by implementing creative, innovative teaching techniques.
  • Planned weekly extra-curricular activities such as Writing Club and Drama Club, ran regular theatre trips and residential visits to enhance pupils' learning experience.
  • Created vibrant learning atmosphere through interactive exercises and discussions.
  • Managed challenging behaviour with firm and fair style.
  • Adapted diverse teaching methods to boost student focus.
  • Provided additional support to struggling students, promoting improved academic confidence.
  • Prepared comprehensive feedback and revision plans for students.
  • Applied differentiated teaching methods to meet varied student needs.
  • Developed intervention strategies to improve student performance.

Education

Safeguarding Young People - Safeguarding

TES, London
09.2024 -

MA in Education - Education Leadership

Edge Hill University, Ormskirk
04.2015 -

NPQH - Education Leadership

Edge Hill University, Ormskirk
09.2012 - 09.2013

PGCE -Secondary English - Teaching

Edge Hill University, Ormskirk
09.1989 - 07.1990

BA [Honours] English - English Degree

Edge Hill University, Ormskirk
09.1986 - 06.1989

A-Levels - English Literature Biology General Studies

Witton Park High School
09.1983 - 07.1985

0 - levels - English Language and Literature , Maths, Biology, Chemistry , Physics, Music, French

Witton Park High School
09.1981 - 06.1983

Skills

  • Strategic and dynamic educational leadership
  • Analytical problem solver
  • Strategic school improvement
  • Recruitment and retention specialist
  • Curriculum implementation
  • Professional development programmes
  • School crisis management and intervention
  • Inspiring leadership style
  • Employee relations

Timeline

TES - Safeguarding Young People, Safeguarding
09.2024 -
Education Leadership Consultant - Self employed Director of Leadershiip Ltd
01.2024 - Current
Headteacher of secondary school - Golborne High School
01.2016 - 12.2023
Edge Hill University - MA in Education, Education Leadership
04.2015 -
Edge Hill University - NPQH, Education Leadership
09.2012 - 09.2013
Secondary CPD Partnership Co-ordinator [ 2 day sec - Edge Hill University
05.2011 - 10.2011
Senior Deputy Headteacher - Golborne High School
09.2008 - 01.2016
Assistant Headteacher - Golborne High School
09.2004 - 09.2008
Assistant Headteacher - Mansfield High School
04.2003 - 09.2004
Head of English Faculty - Mansfield High School
08.1996 - 04.2003
Assistant Head of English - Southlands High School
09.1994 - 08.1996
Teacher of English - Southlands High School
09.1990 - 09.1994
Edge Hill University - PGCE -Secondary English, Teaching
09.1989 - 07.1990
Edge Hill University - BA [Honours] English, English Degree
09.1986 - 06.1989
Witton Park High School - A-Levels, English Literature Biology General Studies
09.1983 - 07.1985
Witton Park High School - 0 - levels, English Language and Literature , Maths, Biology, Chemistry , Physics, Music, French
09.1981 - 06.1983

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