Tina Graham, Principal at Dartmouth Academy
Dartmouth Academy has faced many challenges over the past few years, culminating in a damning Ofsted inspection last September. That was just 20 days after new principal Tina Graham took over. Six months on, she tells our reporter Steph Woolvin the school has turned a corner.
You took on an Academy which was “underperforming”. So you like a challenge?
I was head of sixth form at Kingsbridge Community College, and had been working very closely with the Academy here. When the last principal stepped down in August someone who knew and cared about the school had to step in quickly. I knew results weren’t at the level they should be, but I strongly believe there’s no reason why students here can’t perform just as well as in any other secondary in the country.
And less than a month in and school inspectors come knocking. That can’t have been easy?
No, it wasn’t the best start to the academic year! They spent a long time assessing us and finally the report came out rating the Academy’s performance as “inadequate” – the lowest rating they give out. It was not a shock though - it was a fair and accurate report. Things hadn’t improved enough since their last visit in 2013, but they are going to now.
What improvements are you introducing?
We have changed the curriculum so more time is given to core subjects like English, Maths and Science.
We are working closer than ever before with the ‘outstanding’ rated Kingsbridge Community College and other schools in Academies South West (the local Multi Academy Trust). This means teachers from different schools can team up to observe each others’ lessons, share best practice, and work together on lesson plans.
The atmosphere in here is buzzing today, how do you keep things positive?
Yes, you aren’t the first person to say that. Lots of visitors say “this doesn’t feel like a school in special measures”. The building is fresh and new, thousands have been spent on it. There are new state of the art facilities, a fully stocked library and a gym, not to mention a canteen with an amazing view. I have a great team and everyone here wants to make this a better place to work and learn.
How do you think your students would describe you?
As someone who always talks to them! I do talk a lot. I have little sayings, catchphrases and buzz words. One of the first things I showed them was a video of ‘the flea experiment’. The insects are sealed in a jar for three days, then the jar is opened to reveal the behaviour of the fleas has totally changed - they never again jump higher than the height of the jar. So my message to my students was simple – lift the lid and, unlike the fleas, forget what has gone before – leave any barriers behind and make the most of the opportunities that you have.
Your role has now been made permanent, what difference has that made?
It’s nice to know I’m here to stay. I’m very passionate about this place. We have to raise standards, for the sake of these young people. It’s our job to provide students with as many starting blocks as possible. When they leave the Academy, maybe leave Dartmouth, they will be out there competing against thousands of others for jobs, university places, apprenticeships. We have to care for them, inspire them and help them excel.
What can students do at the Academy when they aren’t in class?
A group has just returned from a skiing trip to Austria. There are other trips planned throughout the year – one to London. We have various sporting teams and clubs such as football, table tennis and trampolining. We also have an after school learning café serving potato wedges and cookies.
It’s great to see staff giving up their free time to support the students.
Did you always want to be a head teacher?
I’d never ruled out a management role, but I actually started out wanting to be a PE teacher. Somewhere in the middle I found a passion for geography and ended up teaching that for 20 years.
What would you be doing if you weren’t teaching?
I’d be in some far off country studying volcanoes!
What is the first thing you do when you come in, in the morning?
Put a pot of coffee on! It’s not just for me, you understand - I like to be able to say to visitors “Fancy a coffee? I have one on the go…”
How do you unwind after a tough day?
Play with my three children, Harry is seven and Emma and Jack are six-year-old twins. My husband is also a teacher, but we find it easy to avoid talking shop: get home - switch off!
Tell us one thing people probably don’t know about you?
I have a black belt in kickboxing! I got it in my early 30s. Thankfully I haven’t yet had to demonstrate my skills!
Dartmouth Academy Tel:01803 839700
First published in By The Dart March 2016 issue