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
  Miss. Amy Sparkes

  Miss. Sparkes is the Deputy Headteacher and teaches across Early Years and Year 1. She has been teaching for over twelve years 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. Sarah Hunter
  EYFS Coordinator
  Mrs. Sarah Hunter

• Miss. Tracy Cass
  Nursery Teaching Assistant
  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 currently support the youngest children in Ward Jackson, I love seeing them grow in confidence and am always wowed and in awe of the amazing things they do. 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. Trina Judd
  Nursery Teaching Assistant
  Mrs. Trina Judd

• Mrs. Sharon Constantine
  Reception & Year 1 Teaching Assistant
  Mrs. Sharon Constantine

• Mrs. Laura Tierney
  Key Stage 1 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 newly 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, English 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 English 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.

• Miss. Kristi Hall
  Key Stage 1 Teaching Assistant
  Miss. Kristi Hall

• Miss. Jenni Petch, Maths Lead
  Year 4/5 Teacher
  Miss. Jenni Petch, Maths Lead

• Miss. Joanne Graham
  Key Stage 2 Teaching Assistant
  Miss. Joanne Graham

• Mrs Lesley Carroll
  Key Stage 2 Teaching Assistant
  Mrs Lesley Carroll

• Mr. Lewis Barker-Platt
  Year 5/6 Teacher, Science Lead
  Mr. Lewis Barker-Platt

  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.

• Mrs. Julie Hatcher
  Key Stage 2 Teaching Assistant
  Mrs. Julie Hatcher

  Mrs. Hatcher is a Teaching Assistant in Year six. 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 like one big family.”

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

  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.

• Mrs. Sarah Law
  Cover Teacher, RE Lead
  Mrs. Sarah Law