A new Associate head for Abbeywood Community School

It was a pleasure to meet up with the new Associate Head David Howe when he kindly gave us the time this month to speak with him about his new post at Abbeywood Community School.

Dave said he has not been disappointed and his initial reaction when walking into the school has remained. He was “struck by the positive and purposeful learning environment ” and talks fondly of the commitment to students that everyone shares. Dave felt sure on his first visit that this was the school he wanted to be a part of. Whilst walking through the corridors myself, it was clear that there is a great mutual respect between students and staff in a stunning state of the art setting with superb learning and recreational facilities.

In post, within a school recently titled “Most improved in South Glos ” with record breaking exam results, Dave is excited about the challenges ahead and ensuring the school continues its momentum to move from Good to Outstanding with Ofsted.

He will be working with the whole school community to build on the many strengths and to date has held one to ones with staff, getting to understand them and their thoughts on continuing the improvements. Dave has also enjoyed interacting with students and getting in on lessons to see them striving for success; one of his biggest challenges is getting to know them all! The one constant he said “is the buzz, energy and sense of pride in achievement that each and every one has ”. He looks forward to Abbeywood being the local school of choice for families and believes   that within its walls “every young person has the very best opportunities to become a life-long learner and positive citizen ”.  

As a geographer, Dave has had a varied teaching career within Wiltshire, Kent, Cambridgeshire and Bristol. He has also taught in Cairo and Moscow. His previous post as Deputy Head was at The John Bentley School in Calne, Wiltshire, a stand alone academy. With the obvious difference in rural and urban locations, Dave feels that both his previous school and Abbeywood Community School are very similar being cohesive, proud and optimistic in strong communities to support the education of local children. He likes the fact that that Abbeywood sits under the umbrella of the Olympic Academy Trust, a move which has had a big impact on the recent progress of the school and is also pleased to be part of the Concorde Partnership, established in 2005 and now a flourishing and successful collaboration between the 3 local schools (Bradley Stoke, Abbeywood, Patchway) and SGS college that enables the provision of the widest choice of subjects available to be studied in the area.

Blessed by visiting many schools (none in his own region) as an Ofsted Inspector, Dave has also had opportunities to take various best practices away with him. Important for any school, Dave will focus on continuing to adapt the curriculum to meet student needs “ensuring the quality of teaching is the best it can be so that students fulfil their potential as happy, confident and responsible adults ”. Without wanting the school community to become complacent he has a big job ahead, but in his down time will still enjoy rugby, travelling and family time with his partner and two boys.

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