DNEAT MAT News

Mrs Kellie Egleton, Headteacher of Hopton Church of England Academy

Mrs Egleton has had an interesting journey with DNEAT and has excelled in her career so far. Her career with DNEAT is explained in her own words.

My journey with DNEAT began as a Deputy Head in September 2013, following academisation. As a Church of England school, we had always worked closely with the Diocese of Norwich, so joining the DNEAT family was our natural “home”. I can remember well when Andy Mash came to speak to our Governing Body. He talked about “parking us in safety”. It always reminds me of Psalm 27 “for in the day of trouble, he will keep me safe” and Psalm 32 “you will protect me”. The Diocese kept that promise. During that time a lasting trust was established.

Joining DNEAT provided many opportunities which enabled our school to flourish as a successful Academy. We benefited from working in a network where professional support and challenge is at the centre of everything we do. The Trust have actively promoted and encouraged leadership at all levels by providing outstanding CPD opportunities. They understand that people are at the heart of a school’s success and have shown a strong commitment to developing my leadership.

The most important gift DNEAT have always provided is the time and space to reflect upon the impact of my work and to consider how my potential can be developed and nurtured, both for myself and for the wider school community. Because the Trust mission is built on Christian values, my leadership development has been focused on the importance of creating effective teams that have a collective commitment to a clearly articulated and ambitious vision for the future success of our school.

One of the first projects I worked on with DNEAT was an invitation to become a member of Shirley Clarke’s learning team of teachers as action researchers; working closely with members of teaching staff across the DNEAT Academy chain to develop our pedagogical thinking. I had been teaching for 15 years when I joined Shirley’s team and can honestly share that it transformed my teaching practice as a result.

This collaboration strengthened my desire to become a Head Teacher and with the full support of DNEAT, I undertook the NPQH. Working within such a large family of schools meant that I could carefully consider where I would learn the most about school leadership. This provided a unique opportunity for me to collaborate with a Federation of schools in a different context to my own. The close, professional relationships I built whilst on placement have been lasting and the partnerships I have made have supported my leadership journey since.

By July 2015, our school was successfully removed from Special Measures and graded RI. We were graded as “Good” for behaviour and attitudes to learning and with these strong foundations now in place it was time to focus on the curriculum. Once again DNEAT were there to facilitate another opportunity for me. This time it was becoming a project lead for a Strategic School Improvement Funded Project. This enabled us to develop a curriculum informed by a strong, robust research base. The curriculum we developed was interesting and current, enabling pupils to build a wealth of knowledge, in readiness for a bright and exciting future.  This was celebrated by Ofsted in December 2019.

Recruitment and retention remain a significant barrier working in the East of the region, which is little surprise given that 180 degrees of our recruitment radius is the North Sea. In 2018, DNEAT supported us to make the brave decision to do something different and we began working in partnership with TeachFirst. I mentored our trainees.

The research-based programme, transformed staffroom conversations. The school community began to buzz with new ideas and pedagogical thinking, because we had trainee teachers who regularly shared the very latest and best educational research with all of us. Working in partnership with TeachFirst enabled us to “grow our own” team.

One of my proudest achievements was being asked to become the TeachFirst Lead Mentor for the East of England. My role as a Lead Mentor provided an exciting leadership opportunity. I felt extremely proud to be part of a small group of mentors, from across the country, who provide leadership and support to the TeachFirst mentor provision locally and feed into the development of the programme nationally.

Throughout my leadership journey, I have felt supported by Rachael Judd, AGEP, who has been dedicated to developing and challenging my leadership. She saw the potential in me to become a system leader – a lifelong ambition. This has transformed my leadership. Rachael knows me well. Her expertise and experience are second to none. Leadership can feel lonely at times but having someone who you can reach out to and trust provides a safe space to explore your thinking. Moments to reflect, critically consider and evaluate are so rare in our profession but giving this process the time it deserves, has enriched my leadership practice as a result.

When we became a “GOOD” school it was our turn to share. I am one of DNEATs Specialist Leads in Education. This role has brought a new purpose to my leadership and has given me the unique opportunity to work beyond my own school. This has enabled me to gain better knowledge and insight and to share my professional learning with others. One of the most privileged roles DNEAT have offered is the opportunity to lead this exceptional group of colleagues.

In addition to this, DNEAT have ensured that I receive regular Coaching with a Master Coach. Coaching sessions have been about taking much needed time for me. Coaching has enabled me to pay attention, recognise my strengths, accept my areas for development, raise my consciousness and ultimately make the right decisions at the right time. True coaching, I have learnt, goes hand in hand with the process of change, encouraging you to dig deeper, ask better questions, find better answers, act on them and learn.

This meant that when DNEAT approached me in July 2021, with an invitation to lead my own school, it felt like the most natural transition in the world. And this is how I find myself here. Head of a fantastic school. Enjoying the aspects of the role which I believe make the most difference to teaching and learning. Supported well by an operational team of experts who take care of finances, HR, Health and Safety and Premises management. A team who always have my back.

What DNEAT do best is to live their values. My family circumstances have been incredibly complex during the last four years but DNEAT know me and celebrate their people. They are an organisation for whom people come first. DNEAT awards, staff spotlight, shoutouts, tea and coffee and employee assistance schemes help us to feel truly valued. But the greatest gift is the safety provided by the Trust.

The collaboration with other leaders is what sets DNEAT apart. We have recently moved to Arbor and this has been carefully supported to protect workload and wellbeing. Nothing is too much trouble and people have a genuine desire to help and support.

The next part of our journey is now underway and I know that when our school achieves its recognition as “Outstanding”, that DNEAT will be there, at my side; supporting, challenging, but most importantly: being my critical friend.”