Mr S Allen
Headteacher & Designated Safeguarding Lead
Read moreMr S Allen
Headteacher & Designated Safeguarding Lead
I have been privileged to work in education for over 30 years, gaining experience across a variety of schools. Since 2013, I have been the Headteacher at Chiseldon Primary & Nursery School, where I took on the challenge of leading the school out of a continuous Requires Improvement grading to achieve and maintain a Good rating by Ofsted since November 2014.
My educational philosophy is simple but powerful: education should be fun, inspiring, and tailored to meet the needs of every pupil. I firmly believe that education is a right, not a privilege, and that our school should provide an education that is as good as, if not better than, many private schools. This belief drives everything we do at Chiseldon.
Leadership, to me, means creating a positive and enriching school culture where all pupils can thrive. I am committed to upholding our school values—Honesty, Equality, Accountability, Respect, and Trust—which together form the HEART of Chiseldon. I work closely with my senior and middle leaders to ensure that we provide high-quality teaching, especially in foundational areas like literacy and numeracy, and that we use evidence-informed approaches such as systematic synthetic phonics to support early reading.
I believe in fostering strong partnerships with our school community. We have an open-door policy where parents and carers can speak with class teachers, the SENCo, Deputy Headteacher, or myself at the start and end of the day. For matters needing more time, we encourage booking appointments to ensure thorough and focused discussions.
As a headteacher, I hold myself to the highest standards of professional conduct and ethical leadership. I am dedicated to continuous professional development, not only for myself but for all staff, ensuring that we remain responsive to the latest educational research and best practises. My role is to provide the conditions in which teachers can excel and pupils can achieve their full potential.
Together with our governance team, we are custodians of the school’s vision and strategic direction, ensuring that every child at Chiseldon receives an education that prepares them well for their next phase of learning and life.
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