HEADTEACHER'S WELCOME
I am so proud to be Headteacher of Maiden Erlegh Chiltern Edge. To become a Headteacher is both a privilege and an honour, and I am relishing every minute of my time in post. To lead a community of young people, to see them progress and prosper and achieve their academic ambitions and personal goals is one of the most amazing things one can achieve in life. It was clear to me when I visited the school on a tour prior to the interview and on the interview days themselves what incredible potential lies within the student community of MECE. All the students I met were articulate, confident and well-presented and one thing that shone through was their pride in the school and what it stands for.
My time in the school over the last three years has only confirmed this first impression.
My values and philosophy towards education are simple. I believe that every student is capable of great work and making the right choices. I will be working hard to inculcate an aspirational mind-set into all of the students but at the same time ensuring all students who need extra support and opportunity can access this. Furthermore, I believe that teaching and learning must always be of a high quality, delivering both challenge and a nurturing environment to allow all students to progress. Education and knowledge can open so many doors, develop passions and give young people a passport to access the world beyond South Oxfordshire and Reading. Consequently, it is crucial that our staff understand just how vital they are in creating futures for the young people in front of them. With this in mind, I will be working tirelessly with my staff to ensure the quality of lessons and education remains high at all times.
My journey to MECE has been lengthy and varied. I served as Deputy Headteacher at Brakenhale School in Bracknell from September 2015 until December 2019. Brakenhale had a long history of low achievement and poor behaviour however as part of a strong leadership team we transformed the school beyond recognition. A huge waiting list, a very positive OFSTED report (with three Outstanding categories out of five) and results that have improved beyond recognition means I look back at my time there with great satisfaction indeed.
As Headteacher of MECE, whilst I recall with some pride our navigation of the Covid lockdowns and our efforts in keeping all our learners working and supported, the last twelve months have been particularly memorable; the very strong OFSTED report of May 2022, the huge increase in the 4 + and 5+ grades in our GCSE examinations of 2022 and our rapidly growing student roll all demonstrate the great progress the school has made.
My aim to make MECE the first choice for the local community and your views and ideas will be invaluable as we all move forward together.
I look forward to working both for you and with you.
Andy Hartley
