Rachel Preston - Staff Governor
RACHEL PRESTON - STAFF GOVERNOR
Responsibilities: Finance & Staffing, Premises, Health & Safety and School Improvement Committees
My interest in becoming a teacher started whilst working as a Teaching Assistant at Mapledown School, a secondary school for children with Special Educational Needs. My time there motivated me to complete my PGCE. After completing my teacher training, I joined Oakleigh School as Newly Qualified Teacher in September 2011.
Whilst at Oakleigh, I have been given lots of fantastic opportunities to develop including managing a department within the school, completing a secondment to the Local Authority where I worked as an Autism Advisory Teacher for mainstream schools in Barnet.
During this time, I have also completed a Masters in Special Education, that enabled me to further develop my knowledge, skills and understanding of working with children and young adults with Special Educational Needs (SEN). Becoming an Assistant Headteacher, responsible for managing Acorn, has been one of the most challenging yet rewarding parts of my career. I feel very lucky to be part of an incredibly positive and supportive organisation and having the opportunities to work with so many wonderful families, children and staff.
I am very excited to be taking on a new role as staff governor at Oakleigh School, where I will continue to support the school in delivering meaningful, motivating and positive learning opportunities for all children.