Senior Leadership Team

Front row (left to right):

Back row (left to right):

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.

Kristy Pascoe – Deputy Headteacher

Kristy has a specific responsibility for the pastoral care and wellbeing of students and staff throughout the school. She also oversees safeguarding and attendance. She is the Designated Safeguarding and Mental Health Lead and is responsible for PSD and character education.

Kristy is the Senior Associate Link for Business Studies, Economics, Law and Sociology and is a teacher of Business Studies.

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 is a Raising Standards Leader and has a whole school remit to monitor the quality of outcomes for all students, including Pupil Premium outcomes at Key Stage 4.

He is also responsible for Assessment, tracking and reporting across all year groups, including the setting of minimum expected attainment grades.

Ian is the Senior Associate for the Mathematics and Humanities Faculties and is a teacher of Geography. 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 the quality of Teaching and Learning across the school, including the effectiveness of feedback to students and homework. He is also responsible for Early Career Teachers (ECTs) and Continuous Professional Development for teachers (CPD).

James is the Senior Leadership Team Senior Associate Link for MFL, Computer Science, 3D Design, literacy and is a teacher of Modern Foreign Languages. 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.

Hannah Talbot – Assistant Headteacher

Hannah is responsible for academic performance in the Sixth Form, working closely with subject leaders to continually improve the quality of provision, assessment and teaching, with a view to maximising outcomes. She works alongside the pastoral team to promote a positive Sixth Form culture and supports students in developing effective study habits. Hannah is a deputy Safeguarding Lead.

Hannah is the Senior Leadership Team Associate for English and drama, having previously been Head of English.  She continues to teach both English Language and English Literature at GCSE and A Level and is an SLE in this area. She is also part of the Gold Expedition Team for the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme.

Kate Nicol – Assistant Headteacher

Kate has a specific responsibility for behaviour throughout the lower school and oversees student rewards. She works closely with our Heads of Year and the Pastoral team to support students’ wellbeing and promote positive behaviour. Kate is also a Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead and is responsible for students who access Alternative Provision across all year groups.

Kate is the Senior Associate link for PE, Health and Social Care, Food Technology and Psychology. She continues to teach both theoretical and practical PE lessons in KS3 and KS4, alongside overseeing the OCR Cambridge Nationals Sport Studies course in the department.

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.

Nick Coates - Senior Leadership Team Associate

As Educational Visits Coordinator (EVC), Nick has day-to-day oversight of the school trips and visits process, including ensuring all visits and trips are thoroughly risk assessed. Nick supports visit leaders with the planning of trips and visits, and the completion of relevant documentation.

Nick is also Director of Sixth Form and a Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead. He teaches Biology at GCSE and A level, and is also a member of the Gold Duke of Edinburgh team.