Lesley Kay, is the new head at Fir Vale School. She has replaced Hugh Howe, who left in the summer to take up a post in Peterborough.
Lesley (pictured, second left) started her career as a science teacher, later becoming assistant and then deputy head. In 2002, she came to Sheffield as a secondary school advisor for the LEA and worked closely with Hugh Howe, and knows the school well.
Lesley is very optimistic about the continued success of Fir Vale. The school has had its best ever GCSE results this summer with 38% of pupils achieving five or more A*–C grades.
The target for next year is 45% and Lesley is confident the school can achieve this target. “There are also exciting times ahead for the school with its role as a Business & Enterprise Specialist School,” she said. A new building will house a Business and Enterprise Centre with a cybercafé, conference room and state of the art learning facilities.
The rich cultural diversity of the school was one of the reasons that attracted Lesley to the school. She said, “The school’s diversity is wonderful and something to celebrate, it is a strength of the school and is valued by our parents.”
Lesley believes the school is now ready for new leadership. “Past successes have given a launch pad to take the school through the next stage of its development and it is a privilege to be given the professional opportunity to lead a school with such potential.”
by Naheem Hanif