Fast Track trio take on school
Liz Robinson, headteacher of Surrey Square Junior School – and Fast Track teaching’s first ever headteacher – has given a glowing endorsement to the Fast Track teaching programme by appointing two Fast Track teachers to be the school’s joint deputy heads.
Liz, who enrolled in the first intake of Fast Track teachers in 2000 and went on to become the UK’s youngest headteacher at the age of 29, has promoted Nicola Shattock and Ed Nonis to the senior leadership roles having worked with them since taking on the Surrey Square headship in January 2006.
Liz commented, “Nicola and Ed are both very talented teachers and being on the Fast Track teaching programme has enabled them to excel. In my experience the skills and training that Fast Track provides instils a unique enthusiasm in teachers and a confidence that really does drive positive change. To have such a dynamic and strong senior leadership team in place is great news for Surrey Square – we have ambitious plans for the school over the coming years and a focused and empowered leadership team is essential for us to achieve these goals.”
Surrey Square has already seen the benefits of Liz’s driven headship with Ofsted recently granting it an “outstanding” for leadership – a result Liz insists could not have happened without the dedication and hard work of her two Fast Track deputies. Nicola, 27, who has been on the Fast Track teaching scheme since 2002 and graduated from the programme on her promotion, said, “The fact that Liz, Ed and I have all been on the Fast Track teaching programme does mean that we share similar ideas about what it is possible to achieve within a school – that there should be no limits. “I’ve had a very positive experience on Fast Track and would certainly recommend it to anyone looking to progress to a senior leadership role in education. I would emphasise however, that being on the programme is by no means an easy ride to a top teaching job. On the contrary – and as is right - the scheme pushes and motivates you to work that little bit harder to achieve your goals. The mentoring and encouragement the programme provides is what I found most valuable.”
Colleague and fellow deputy head Ed Nonis, 42, who was on the Fast Track teaching programme for over 4 years agrees, “the support and advice offered by Fast Track is invaluable in helping you to focus your career. We are also lucky enough to have a very supportive environment at Surrey Square where Liz has introduced a shared leadership model, which encourages leadership at all levels throughout the school. There is a real energy about the school at the moment and I’m sure that much of this can be credited to the ‘can do’ attitude inspired by Fast Track teaching.”
- Find out more about the Fast Track teaching programme