Acting head Catharine lands school’s top job

Stoneleigh Academy New Haed Catherine Jones with Charlotte Morgan who has designed a new school logo.

Catharine Jones has been appointed permanent head of Stoneleigh Academy, Derker — previously Stoneleigh Primary School.

She has been acting head since September, 2011 and since she took up the post the school has seen a radical transformation including gaining academy status with the support of sponsor Oldham College in a bid to provide outstanding education provision for the community.

Stoneleigh has also undergone a £1.1 million internal refurbishment that has seen classrooms extended and modernised.

Community and training facilities are now offered so that the school can provide educational opportunities for adults including English, maths and ICT.

After Christmas the courses available will include ESOL (English for speakers of other languages) and parenting classes.

Catharine said: “We see the school as very much at the heart of the community, offering learning for everyone.

“Our new improved school is much better equipped to fulfil this role and this, along with the work we are doing with children and parents, is already proving to be successful.

“Teaching and learning is based on accurate assessment and matched to individual children’s needs.”

Originally from Chadderton, Catharine was a pupil at Mills Hill Primary School and North Chadderton School before studying at Leeds University to complete dual honours in primary education and history with qualified teacher status. She is married with two children who both go to school in Oldham.

In her last post at Spring Brook Special School, Oldham — one of the first schools in the country to obtain the Achievement for All Quality Lead Award — Catharine achieved “outstanding” across all areas in her last OFSTED inspection.

Catharine says her greatest achievement is “coming to work at Stoneleigh and seeing the transformational change in the children, their ability to learn and make progress. It’s true that working in partnership with staff, children and parents towards a shared vision is very powerful in determining positive futures for our children.”

Principal of Oldham College Alun Francis added: “Catharine has made an outstanding contribution as acting head and is the right person to take Stoneleigh Academy forward. The college is working closely with Catharine to improve learning opportunities.”