 Director:
Gale Freshwater
Qualifications: Cert Ed, B.Ed (Hons), BA
(Hons), Cert Counselling, Dip Counselling
I cut my educational 'teeth' in the London Boroughs
of Hillingdon, Brent and Ealing in the 1970s and 1980s, working
in infant and first schools, all with nurseries, moving out to my
headship of a large, nursery and infant school in Basingstoke, Hampshire,
1990.
Central to my belief in leading schools, is the
holistic premise that young children need experiences and development
in a supportive, modelling for citizenship, and co-learning atmosphere.
Consequently, during my headship, I focused on the twin aspects
of building and nurturing the team, giving children the skills to
communicate and understand their place in the world.
My belief in the power and richness of the team
led to in-depth analysis of individual skills and strengths of the
team, with the resulting emotionally and spiritually healthy climate,
giving children an experience which is greater than its parts. Investors
in People, Belbin's model of the group and Strength Deployment Inventory
were helpful tools on the journey towards a working ethos, and helped
to create an emotionally healthy approach towards learning and teaching.
During my headship I created a rolling programme
of a counselling approach to teaching and learning, together with
establishing an on-site counsellor for staff and parents. This last
development was an inevitable consequence of my own journey towards
becoming a counsellor, and supporting other schools towards a counselling/caring
approach.
I was a consultant head teacher, and consider it a privilege to
have worked alongside other head teachers, on aspects of leadership.
It never fails to impress me how many people are out there, quietly
performing miracles, in our schools, and I champion the cause of
cherishing leaders in our schools.
And so to ICT!
ICT is a tool which, when subservient to the ethos
and style of an establishment, can excite, stimulate and enrich
the teaching and learning environment. When I stood in the nursery
and watch the spontaneous awe and wonder bubbling over the faces
of 3 yr olds, as they watch the fledging birds via the bird-box
web cam, I know that ICT works, i.e, we have forgotten the ICT!
I have been a Nof trainer for Hampshire schools,
am currently a SLICT trainer, supporting head teachers in their
leadership of ICT, and also support schools nationwide, using the
ICT Self Review Framework. I am a Senior ICT Mark Assessor, for
those schools seeking accreditation of their SRF level. I am particularly
passionate about Early Years and the use of ICT to support the enrichment
of experience throughout the Foundation Stage, matched to the 6
Areas of Learning. I believe in 'real' nurseries, offering quality
experiences in which children can access, explore and control their
world.
Being a Host school for ICT, supporting the National
College of Leadership in their SLICT programme, gave me the privilege
of meeting many head teachers and walking and talking the glorious,
if imperfect, world of ICT at my own school.
From September 2005 I have worked for Gatehouse
Partnership full time, supporting schools, staff and leaders.
And so to the present!
Juggling all these roles is nothing compared
to the roles of mother and home maker (I'm really good with other
people's kids, honest!). Raising four children has been the most
salutary and rewarding experience of my life, and one which has
shaped my attitude to learning and teaching. For therapy, I muck
out my hen-house, which is currently inhabited by Buff Orpingtons,
French Marans with attitude, and a handful of hardy bantams, who
give us the best omelette you've ever tasted! I read voraciously,
am a musician and art lover, and enjoy good weather motorbiking.
Page Updated: May 2006
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