Senior Leadership Team

Senior Leadership Team biographies

Chris Smith – Headteacher

Chris has overall responsibility for the effective leadership and management of the school. Particular priority areas include self-evaluation, development planning, parental engagement and financial management. He works closely with the Senior Leadership Team and the Board of Trustees to ensure that the school continues to have the highest expectations in terms of behaviour and progress of the students.

Chris is the Senior Associate link for Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Engineering and is a teacher of Biology. He is also part of the Gold Expedition Team for the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme.

Ian Medlicott – Deputy Headteacher

Ian has a specific responsibility for the Curriculum of the school, including the Year 9 pathways process, staff deployment and timetable. Ian has a whole school remit to monitor the quality of provision and outcomes for all students at Key Stage 4. Additionally, he has responsibility for Examinations and the whole school digital strategy.

Ian is a teacher of Geography and the Senior Associate for the Mathematics faculty, Languages department and Physical Education department. He is also part of the Silver Expedition Team for the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme.

James Siddle – Deputy Headteacher

James has a specific responsibility for behaviour throughout the lower school and oversees character education. He works closely with our Heads of Year and the Pastoral team to support students’ wellbeing and promote positive behaviour. James is also a Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead and is responsible for the pastoral curriculum.

James is  a teacher of Modern Foreign Languages and he is also part of the Bronze Expedition Team for the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme.

Stephanie Smith – Assistant Headteacher

Stephanie is the SENCO so has specific responsibility for the students with special educational needs and disabilities. She is also the Raising Standards Leader for Gifted and Talented students, in charge of the GT register and monitoring their progress and provision. 

Stephanie is the Senior Leadership Team Associate for the Humanities Faculty, and is a teacher of English, film studies, and media studies. She is also part of the Silver Expedition Team for the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme.

Kate Nicol – Assistant Headteacher

Kate is our Designated Safeguarding Lead and she works closely with the Deputy Designated Safeguarding leads and the Pastoral team to safeguard our students and support students’ wellbeing. Kate is also responsible for students who access Alternative Provision offsite and is the school’s designated teacher for Looked after Children.

Kate is a part of the PE department and teaches core PE across all year groups.

Nick Coates - Assistant Headteacher

As Director of Sixth Form, Nick has responsibility for academic standards and the curriculum at KS5. He is also the Educational Visits Coordinator (EVC) with oversight of school trips and visits.

Nick is the Senior Associate for the Humanities Faculty and he teaches Biology at GCSE and A level. He is also a Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead and a member of the Gold Duke of Edinburgh team.

Adele Blount - Assistant Headteacher

Adele has a specific responsibility for staff development and developing the quality of teaching and learning across our school. She is responsible for Early Career Teachers (ECTs) and our Continuous Professional Development programme for teachers (CPD).

Adele is the Senior Leadership Team Associate for the English Faculty and oversees Literacy across the school. She continues to teach both English Language and English Literature at GCSE and A Level and is an SLE in this area.

Charlotte Freeman - Asssitant Headteacher

Charlotte has a specific responsibility for Assessment, tracking and reporting across all year groups. She is also responsible for Pupil Premium outcomes across the school.

Charlotte is the Senior Leadership Team Associate for the Technology Faculty and a Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead. She continues to teach both GCSE and A Level Chemistry and A Level Psychology and is also a member of the Bronze Duke of Edinburgh team.

Ben Atkinson - Senior Leadership Team Associate

Ben is the Raising Standards Leader for vocational courses, working closely with subject leaders, teachers and students to improve examination outcomes.

Ben is also the head of a highly creative Technology Faculty that encompasses subjects such as Art, Engineering and Food.  He leads the Engineering Department and also teaches Three dimensional design and Health & Social Care. Ben is also part of the STEM team that organise activities to prepare students for work in Science, Technology, Engineering or Maths fields.

Steve Clark - Senior Leadership Team Associate

Steve is responsible for the future employability of all our students. He works closely with the Careers Guidance Officer and Heads of Year to ensure students know of what opportunities there are available to them at South and beyond, as well as helping them develop and understand their soft skills. A key aspect is contact with working adults to help students understand the world of work.

Steve is also Head of Physics and one of the Assistant Heads of Science. Having been awarded a Royal Academy grant he supervises the student team that monitors the cosmic rays measured by the school’s detector and the research into this phenomenon carried out by the students. He is also part of the Gold Expedition Team for the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme.

Jennifer Lodwick – Senior Leadership Team Associate

Jennifer is responsible for parental engagement. This involves coordinating parents’ evenings, parents focus group and the school social media sites.

Jennifer is also head of the successful Humanities Faculty and Geography department. The faculty includes French, Geography, History, Religious Studies, Sociology, Spanish and Travel and Tourism. She is also part of the Silver Duke of Edinburgh Team.