Denshaw headteacher honoured at Lords reception

A DENSHAW headteacher’s efforts to improve the lives of vulnerable pupils and those with special educational needs have been recognised at a House of Lords reception.

Sue Callaghan, head of Christ Church CE Primary School, attended the event in Westminster last month as one of a new national team of 18 headteacher ambassadors unveiled by the education charity Achievement for All 3As.

All the heads have significant experience of running the charity’s programme in their own schools, where it has had a remarkable impact on the lives of special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) and vulnerable pupils.

The role of the ambassadors is to share their knowledge with other schools and increase awareness of the issues affecting the country’s most vulnerable school children.

Sue said: “I am delighted to be appointed an Achievement for All Ambassador and for this honour to be recognised with a House of Lords reception.

“I’m very excited to have this role: it’s an opportunity to share with other schools approaches which are making a real difference to the attainment of disadvantaged and vulnerable children.”

Peer Lord Addington hosted the event, which was attended by Children and Families Minister Edward Timpson and senior education figures, and sponsored by Achievement for All 3As partners BT Openreach and MicroLink.

Achievement for All 3As is currently working with more than 2,000 schools around the country to improve the attainment of vulnerable and disadvantaged children in reading and writing and maths.

Achievement for All coaches work with schools to develop a tailored programme of lesson observations, coaching and professional development to develop and support strong leadership, encourage more rigorous tracking of pupil progress and removing barriers to children’s learning.

Research has shown pupils in schools supported by the programme are making 50 per cent better progress than the national expectation for all pupils.

Professor Sonia Blandford, CEO and founder of the Achievement for All 3As charity, said: “Through the example of headteachers like Sue fulfilling the role of Achievement for All Ambassador we hope other schools will take notice of the quiet revolution that is happening throughout the country.”