Lauren Walker, HR Apprentice

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Tom Chaplin, Caretaker at Howard Community Academy

A man is standing in front of the camera smiling. He is wearing a blue polo neck and blue lanyard.

“I began my journey at Howard Community Academy over seven years ago as an Assistant Caretaker. Although it was my first role in site management, it was not my first time at the school; I attended Howard as a pupil! It has been a rewarding experience to return and now work alongside some of the teachers and teaching assistants who once taught me.

“Today, I am the Caretaker. My responsibilities include overseeing all site operations and maintenance, securing the site each day, coordinating contractors, and, most importantly, ensuring a safe and welcoming environment for staff, pupils, and visitors.

“The school site was originally built for a middle school, designed with older pupils in mind. Before the renovation, some parts of the building had not seen significant upgrades in over 50 years and were in a state of disrepair. Since transitioning to a primary school, it became clear that the facilities needed to be adapted for younger pupils, both in design and safety.

“The renovations were essential for creating a new, safe and happy environment for the pupils to learn in. The project began in June 2023 and was carried out in seven phases, starting with Key Stage 1 classrooms. Each phase involved closing 4 to 5 classrooms at a time. We were fortunate to have access to our large sports hall, which we transformed into temporary learning spaces to ensure that teaching could continue with minimal disruption.

“Alongside this, I was also working on the day-to-day operational tasks, ensuring that the school’s site was running smoothly so that pupils could receive the best possible education.

“The project wrapped up in March 2024, with approximately 95% of the work completed within the planned timeframe. The transformation is incredible; it feels like a brand-new school.

“I work closely with Kevin Cornwell, Premises and Operations Manager and Claudine Bateman, Director of Operations at Anglian Learning. Whenever I encounter an unfamiliar site issue, they are quick to offer support and guidance. If external contractors are needed, they are working to get things moving as quickly as possible. I find this is the case across Anglian Learning, with everyone happy to help. I recall on one occasion, Jonathan Culpin, CEO, helping to move some bricks during one of his visits to the school!

“I have recently completed the IOSH Managing Safely course through the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health, which helps ensure we maintain our site to the highest safety standards. Although the course was online, I had the full backing of Alison Weir, Headteacher of Howard Community Academy, as well as Kevin and Claudine, who all made sure I had protected time to study.”

Rachel Kelly, Headteacher of Stour Valley Community School

Rachel is originally from The Forest of Dean in Gloucestershire. She studied for a joint-honours degree in French and Italian at the University of Kent in Canterbury (UKC), which included a year living in Italy, where she taught English as a foreign language.

This experience led her to a career in teaching, and she gained a Post Graduate Certificate of Education from the University of East Anglia after graduating from UKC before embarking upon her teaching career.

Rachel has been teaching since 1995, when she started her career as a teacher of French at a high school just outside Norwich. After two years, she took up a position as Head of Languages at a school in Chelmsford, Essex, where she became involved in training teachers and subsequently became an Advanced Skills Teacher, supporting teachers in her school and other schools throughout Essex.

Rachel joined the senior leadership team of a large secondary school in North Essex in 2007. Over the years, she developed her leadership skills in key areas including staff development and training, teaching and learning, and behaviour and safeguarding. A particularly meaningful part of her early leadership journey was working as part of this senior team to successfully open a new collaborative sixth form provision, a project that reflected her belief in the power of partnership and innovation.

Rachel became the Headteacher of Stour Valley Community School and CEO of Stour Valley Educational Trust (SVET) in 2018. Stour Valley is a small 11 to 16 secondary school in the historic town of Clare, West Suffolk, rooted in the principles of Henry Morris Village Colleges. The school prides itself on its strong community ethos and a philosophy of truly knowing each student, values that are embedded in Rachel’s leadership.

After much deliberation and strategic reflection, the SVET Trust Board, with Clare Community Primary School and Stour Valley Community School in a strong position, under Rachel’s leadership, decided to explore opportunities for a potential merger with other local trusts. On 1 March 2025, both schools officially joined Anglian Learning with a view to contributing meaningfully to a larger, collaborative group of schools and benefiting from shared approaches to school improvement.

Rachel remains committed to inclusive, values-led leadership and continues to advocate for high standards, strong relationships and educational opportunities which allow students to thrive in a nurturing and ambitious learning environment.

Caroline Webb, Headteacher of Linton Heights Junior School

“Since LHJS joined Anglian Learning in 2020, I have enjoyed the sense of community and collaboration within our Trust. My previous experience in a local authority school felt very solitary. Anglian Learning has provided me with formal and informal support for all aspects of my role.

“Over the past couple of years, I have enjoyed working with deputies from across Anglian Learning, meeting with Racheal Johnston, our Director of Primary Education, and training with John Kane. A deputy headteacher role can feel quite isolating, so it is nice to have many opportunities to meet and collaborate with other people in your position.

“I have also enjoyed being part of Anglian Learning’s Professional Learning Improvement Network. It has been good to have had an input on the development of the Trust’s approach to professional development. James Woodcock, who chairs the meeting, is great to work with and you feel that he listens to the ideas given. You can see how much Anglian Learning values professional development with these conversations and that James’ role within the Trust exists.

“If you want to see your ideas implemented, a senior position will help with this. With a deputy headteacher role, you retain a commitment to teaching so do not lose touch on what it is like to be in a classroom.

“The biggest difference between being a class teacher and a senior leadership role is problem solving. I love listening to colleagues’ problems and working with them to find solutions. Staff are what form the backbone of the school and are the ones who live and breathe the vision and culture.”