Welcome .

Name:	Mrs Linda Kingdon

Profile:

Linda joined Focus as an Associate Consultant in May 2012 when she left her most recent headship in Sheffield to re locate with her family to the Lake District. Linda draws on a vast experience and she has a well established track record in education which includes work as a headteacher in three schools, a senior local authority adviser / Head of Inclusion, Ofsted inspector and an NCSL accredited Local Leader and Professional Partner. Working with schools in challenging circumstances is Linda’s passion and her most recent headship involved her in “fresh starting” a newly built primary school after closing three former schools in a disadvantaged area of the city. Her conviction and commitment to the community has led her to work closely with academic colleagues at Sheffield University and the London Institute of Education developing whole school “Learning Principles” and an adventurous curriculum to engage and motivate children and their families in order to raise standards, reach floor targets and then be able to sustain this. The inspection in her most recent headship in November 2011 acknowledged: ? There is clear evidence that the outstanding practice in the Early Years Foundation Stage is being spread to other parts of the school. This is most notable in developing speech and language in Key Stage 1, which is having a direct impact on attainment in reading and writing. ? Incisive self-evaluation takes place at all levels of leadership with classroom teachers taking responsibility for the analysis of data relating to pupils’ achievement. ? In lessons, pupils work well independently and in teams. This is because the good habits of collaborative working, listening to each other and good behaviour have been established early, forming a sound basis for effective learning. ? The headteacher leads with energy and vision. Throughout the school, there is a palpable sense of shared responsibility. Leaders at all levels have established high expectations and driven improvements well. ? School leaders have adopted innovative approaches to improving provision which have successfully given a distinctive character to the school. Notable among these initiatives are film making to improve literacy, the structured programme of parent workshops within the Early Years Foundation Stage, and the development of talk through Key Stage 1. In 2011, the school received an “Outstanding Achievement” Award from the Communication Trust for its work to develop children’s speech and language and in 2012 Jenny Mosley’s “Golden School Award”. It is featured as a good practice school in Sheffield Hallam University’s publicity materials and in the National College publication, “Leadership for parental engagement”. Jenny Mosley, in one of her blogs described a school that, “Abounds with uproarious loud laughter, constant chuckles and shy smiles, rituals, celebrations, jokes, dressing up, singing, looking at funny films of themselves – it is a place where eccentricity can abound!” Her main areas of work link to quality leadership, improving learning and understanding quality first teaching through the development of inclusive practices and a whole school ethos that supports all children and their families. Her work is highly valued by schools, nationally acclaimed consultants and LA leaders. Linda works with colleagues in school to help drive their improvements as well as leading conferences and training. Safeguarding Linda has an enhanced CRB disclosure