Gale Freshwater
Qualifications: Cert Ed, B.Ed (Hons), BA (Hons), Cert Counselling, Dip Counselling
Thank you for taking the time to read all about myself, Gale Freshwater, a director of Gatehouse Partnership.
I cut my educational ‘teeth’ in the London Boroughs of Hillingdon, Brent and Ealing in the1970s 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, was 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. 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. 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.
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! It is fascinating to see how the links between Early Years and Special Needs’ establishments are exemplified through the use of ICT to enable autonomy, communication, self-esteem, confidence and facilitating the philosophy of seeing our young pupils as lead learners.
From September 2005 I have worked for Gatehouse Partnership full time, supporting schools, staff and leaders. It has been a joy to work with schools from Cornwall to Newcastle, via Wales, and state to Independent, Special, Nursery, Pre-Prep, Prep, boarding, 3-19 , International and Single Sex, all working towards the common cause of supporting the individual child’s needs in the 21st Century.
I am a Lead Assessor for the ICT Mark and support many schools on engaging with the Self Review Framework, a process which many schools say have been helpful in supporting their self evaluation.
