Staff (ID 1136)

• Mr. David Akers
  Headteacher
  Mr. David Akers

  Mr. Akers joined The Ward Jackson family in 2013 and has been the Headteacher for the past six years. He has nearly twenty years’ experience in education, has taught from Year 1 to Year 6 and held a number of leadership roles. Mr. Akers feels privileged to have found his calling and strongly believes in fostering a nurturing and inclusive school community, rooted in Christian values. Mr. Akers’ favourite thing about our school is the joy and enthusiasm the children bring to each day.

• Miss. Amy Sparkes
  Deputy Headteacher, EYFS Leader, Writing Lead & Nursery/ Reception Class Teacher
  Miss. Amy Sparkes

  Miss. Sparkes is the Deputy Headteacher and teaches across Early Years and Key Stage 1. She has been teaching since 2011 and in that time has taught across the primary age range, from Pre-Nursery to Year 6 and held a number of leadership roles. Miss. Sparkes believes passionately in enquiry-based learning and developing children’s thinking and questioning skills. She loves the community feel fostered at Ward Jackson and takes great pride in being a member of our school family.

• Mrs. Julie Whaites
  Administrator and Parent Support
  Mrs. Julie Whaites

  Mrs. Whaites is our School Administrator and joined our school in 1999. She loves the warm, friendly and caring atmosphere here and says “the children are amazing!” Mrs. Whaites is in our school office ready to help our community with anything from attendance, parent enquiries and support to making sure the children are safe in school. Mrs. Whaites thinks our school is so special, she wouldn’t want to work anywhere else.

• Miss. Sam Proud
  School Business Manager
  Miss. Sam Proud

• Mrs. Trina Judd
  Nursery/ Reception Teaching Assistant
  Mrs. Trina Judd

• Mrs. Lauren Owens
  Nursery/ Reception Teaching Assistant
  Mrs. Lauren Owens

  Mrs Owens, is a Teaching Assistant in the Tugboats Class, she loves seeing all the children’s happy and smiley faces, especially after a long weekend on a Monday morning!

  Outside of school, she loves to spend time with her husband and little boy going on different adventures like camping but their favourite thing in the world is having snuggles at home on the couch with a picnic and watching movies.

• Miss. Leoni Watson
  Nursery/ Reception Teaching Assistant
  Miss. Leoni Watson

• Miss. Danielle Allen
  Nursery Teaching Assistant
  Miss. Danielle Allen

• Mrs. Michaela Piper
  EYFS & KS1 Teaching Assistant
  Mrs. Michaela Piper

  Mrs Piper started working at Ward Jackson as a supply Teaching Assistant, she instantly felt at home and fell in love with how special Ward Jackson is. As soon as the opportunity became available to become an official staff member, Mrs Piper didn't need to give it a second thought. She is excited to begin her journey supporting the youngest children in school.

• Miss.Rebecca Hall
  Year 1/2 Class Teacher
  Miss.Rebecca Hall

  Miss. Hall completed her Teacher Training here at Ward Jackson and enjoyed it so much, she stayed on as a member of our teaching team. She is the Norlina class teacher. She enjoys including children's interests and hobbies into their everyday school-lives. She says; "I love that Ward Jackson provides opportunities to explore these interests through exciting trips and activities."

• Mrs. Laura Tierney
  Year 1/2 Teaching Assistant and Thrive Practitioner
  Mrs. Laura Tierney

  Mrs. Tierney has worked at Ward Jackson School since 2013. She started working as a one-to-one supporting children with their journey through school. Mrs. Tierney is a level 3 Teaching Assistant and a qualified Thrive Practitioner. Over the years she has worked with all year groups across KS1 and KS2. Mrs. Tierney strongly believes that everything is possible if you believe.

• Miss. Mary Robinson
  Year 3/4 Class Teacher, Reading Lead
  Miss. Mary Robinson

  Miss. Robinson joined Ward Jackson in 2012 first as a teaching assistant and then as a one-to-one working in KS2. After a number of years based in Year 6, she decided to take the next step to become a fully qualified teacher. Miss. Robinson leads reading and sport in school and loves to make sure everyone gets to experience lots of exciting things. She loves that Ward Jackson is a family where everyone knows each other and plays together.

• Mrs. Julie Hatcher
  Y3/4 Teaching Assistant
  Mrs. Julie Hatcher

  Mrs. Hatcher is a Teaching Assistant in Year 3/4. She joined Ward Jackson in 2004. During her time as a part of the Ward Jackson family, she has worked across all year groups from Early Years to Year 6. She is one of the school’s first aiders, a role she puts to good use when on our annual visit to Dukes House Wood. Mrs. Hatcher loves the community feel around the school and surrounding area. “It's like one big family.”

• Mrs. Ann Johnson
  Year 3/4 Teaching Assistant
  Mrs. Ann Johnson

• Miss. Jenni Petch, STEM Lead
  Year 5/6 Teacher
  Miss. Jenni Petch, STEM Lead

• Miss. Joanne Graham
  Year 5/6 Teaching Assistant
  Miss. Joanne Graham

• Mr. Lewis Barker-Platt
  Cover Teacher
  Mr. Lewis Barker-Platt

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  Mr. Barker-Platt joined the Ward Jackson family in 2017 as a one-to-one Teaching Assistant working in Year 3. Over the years he has worked across the whole school, making the best interests of every child the foundation of what he does. Mr. Barker-Platt even took the next step and became a fully qualified teacher! He has a love for all things Science and Computing; sharing his passion with the staff and pupils here at school.

• Miss. Tracy Cass
  Teaching Assistant - Whole School SEND & SEMH Support
  Miss. Tracy Cass

  Miss. Cass started in Ward Jackson on a college placement in 2014. After only a few weeks, she knew it was the place for her and became a permanent member of staff. She has extensive experience in supporting children’s learning on a one-to-one, group and whole class basis. Miss. Cass has a passion for education and has gained a BA (Hons) in Education and Training, writing her dissertation on nurture support in a primary setting. Miss. Cass says; “I love to see our children thrive and become confident in their abilities, no matter what they are. Being a paediatric first aider I am forever wiping knees and giving lots of TLC - I do think I'm often mistaken as being a nurse!”

• Mrs. Lorraine Emmerson
  Lead Thrive Practitioner
  Mrs. Lorraine Emmerson

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  Mrs. Emerson joined Ward Jackson in 2011 as a one-to-onesupport. Since then, Mrs. Emmerson has supported many children who require one-to-one guidance and has worked across the whole primary age range.Mrs. Emerson has gained extensive training in Emotional Literacy Support and has become a fully qualified Thrive Practitioner.She currently works closely supporting children with SEND needs and provides Thrive sessions for groups of children and individual children. Mrs. Emerson is so proud of being a part of the Ward Jackson family and loves to see the children thriving and being the best they can be.