GEP Academies pays tribute to departing head
Guildford Education Partnership (GEP Academies) is today announcing that Jonathan Kirkham, the Headteacher of Sandfield Primary School is moving on and that Kate Collins has been appointed as the Acting Headteacher. She will take up post immediately after the February half-term break.
Kate Collins is an experienced senior leader and has worked at Boxgrove Primary for 15 years. Like Sandfield, Boxgrove Primary is part of the family of GEP Academies. She has been Deputy Head since 2015, leading on assessment and pupil progress and regularly delivers training to staff in the school and in the wider GEP family.
Chris Tweedale, Chief Executive of GEP Academies said:
“On behalf of everyone at GEP Academies, I would like to thank Jonathan Kirkham for his hard work and commitment to Sandfield over the years and we wish him all the best at his next school. We will be sad to see him leave us, but are delighted to have appointed Kate Collins as the Acting Head.
“One of the major benefits of being a family of schools is that we are able to draw on a wider talent-pool across a number of schools when opportunities like this arise. Kate is a very experienced leader, and knows the local community extremely well, having worked at Boxgrove for 15 years. She has a fantastic track record, and will bring real energy and enthusiasm to Sandfield.”
Kate Collins said:
“It is such an exciting opportunity for me to become part of Sandfield Primary School and I am very much looking forward to taking on the role of Acting Head. Being part of the GEP community of schools I have already worked with many of the staff at Sandfield and I look forward to getting to know all the children and their parents.”