Andrew Anderson

As the head of drama in a large and successful secondary comprehensive school I feel I have developed a huge range of transferable skills . I have managed 2 colleagues in the department -nurturing and supporting their professional growth and reviewing their performance in ways which both challenge and inspire them to progress. I have been responsible for thousands of students across my time at the school - fostering and encouraging a love of my subject both practically and academically and preparing students for the rigours of examination and the world of work, I have been involved in short,medium and long term planning ,creating lesson plans and programmes of study ; assessment modules and curriculum rationales in the ever shifting environment of education-demonstrating flexibility and pragmatism as well as resilience and enthusiasm in the face of change.I have worked with students across the whole spectrum of ability and encouraged every one of them to achieve their very best- even when they didn’t want me to!I have been involved in a host of creative endeavours - from directing a host of school productions and festival entries to leading the creative partnerships initiative- connecting artists with students in classrooms on genuinely ambitious projects enriching their love of the Arts and education.I have led numerous staff CPD sessions and became a certified facilitator for an outstanding teacher programme. Most recently I have created and led a leadership programme for the sixth form,inculcating the skills students will need to shine in their studies and lives and culminating in leadership projects across the school and local community.I have always maintained a productive ,professional and highly collaborative relationship with colleagues and dealt successfully with parents in both formal and informal contexts.I feel my years as a teacher have given me exemplary organisational skills ,the ability to balance several demanding tasks simulataneously , respond to stress with resilience and positivity as well as the ability to get the very best out of people as I demand it of myself.

The foundations for the skills I have developed and honed at Haslingden were laid here.