Dropmore Infant School appoints two headteachers

An infants school steeped in history and tradition is forging ahead with a new future by appointing two headteachers instead of one.

Dropmore Infant School in Littleworth Common is now managed by former assistant headteachers, Amy Douglas and Nicky Waugh, who will share the working week and role equally.

The aim of adopting this new style of leadership is to bring more strategic planning, skills and solutions to the school whilst taking on a healthier work-life balance.

In a joint statement, Miss Douglas and Mrs Waugh, said:

“We have worked together as assistant headteachers at the school and are absolutely aligned in our values and passion for Dropmore.

“As a job share, we bring a wider range of experience and skills. The arrangement also enables us to be fully committed to the role while balancing our other responsibilities as working mothers.

“There are many inspiring examples of job-sharing at senior levels in other sectors and we are delighted the school has also taken this approach.”

Focus for the year ahead sees a diverse range of initiatives including a forest school, parent forums, wellbeing initiatives, and building on a ‘high quality teaching and learning and effective curriculum’.

Amy Douglas said that so far, the first term is going really well.

“We both worked in the school for a number of years anyway and then were assistant heads so it was quite a nice transition.

“Parents are quite empowered by the fact that it is mothers in leadership positions.

“We’ve been doing a lot of research into co-headships as well as co-leadership positions now and there are quite a few jobshares in civil service and a lot of those are mums.

“It’s a way of progressing with your career as well as having a family."

Amy said that the co-heads’ leadership styles differ from each other but also complement in a big way.

“Nicky is very focused on wellbeing, pastoral care and creating a nurturing environment for the children and I am taking on more of the curriculum – what the children are learning and their assessments.

"It’s quite nice as it’s quite a big job in a small school and we are able to share it.”

The move to a shared leadership is supported by the school’s governors whose chair, Tim Wicks, said: “Anyone who enters the school gates gets a real sense of what a supportive environment it is and how dedicated the staff are to delivering a quality education.

“This is an exciting time for our school where we will maintain much of what makes it so special while also embracing a new era and new ideas’’.

Dropmore Infant School first opened in 1796 and is one of the only schools of its kind with a thatched roof.

Children aged four to seven are taught in Reception, Year 1 and 2 classes under an ethos of ‘a vibrant, inclusive school where all children reach their academic potential in a nurturing environment’.

The school attained an Outstanding rating by Ofsted in its most recent inspection.

Unique to the school are special events like its annual Country Dancing Festival which lots of schools participate in.

The school’s next open days are on Tuesday, October 17 and Friday, November 3 between 9.30am and 11.30am or 1.30pm and 2.30pm.