A panel of students from The Cavendish School, Cambridgeshire’s first state maintained special free school provision for autistic children, have helped the school appoint its new assistant headteacher, Gemma Dexter.
She will be assistant head, curriculum, assessment and learning.
Gemma, who joined the school in April, leads the delivery of the school’s International Baccalaureate (IB) Primary Years Programme (PYP), which focuses on the holistic development of the whole child.
The programme uses six themes to enable students to contextualise their learning and apply it to real-world scenarios.
The panel interviewed Gemma, and other candidates, as part of the school’s commitment to championing the student voice in its decision-making processes.
Each of the seven students on the panel asked the candidates a question, ranging from ‘What is your previous school experience?’ to ‘What opinions do you have regarding sensory breaks?’
The students then rated each of the candidate’s responses out of four and shared their comments, which was used as part of the final decision-making process.
Gemma has spent more than 15 years working in education, including leading the Weldon CE Primary School’s Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) and being assistant headteacher at William Law CE Primary School.
She said: “I am absolutely delighted to have started my new role at The Cavendish School.
“I knew this school had something remarkable about it from the moment I first walked around the premises, and I’m pleased to be joining a team of incredible autism specialists.
“I truly believe that every child should receive an outstanding education, regardless of circumstance, and I am pleased to be part of a learning community that is helping to remove the barriers to education for young people with autism.”
Head of School, Stephanie Smith, said: “We are pleased to have welcomed Gemma to The Cavendish School, who brings with her a wealth of experience, energy, and enthusiasm.
“I look forward to working with her to continue to deliver and develop our curriculum using the PYP.
“The flexibility within the IB framework enables us to tailor the programme to our students’ individual strengths and passions. With Gemma onboard, our students will continue to thrive and flourish as they meet their personal aspirations.”
To find out more about The Cavendish School, please visit: https://thecavendishschool.org.uk/
Gemma Dexter, Assistant Headteacher, The Cavendish SchoolAbout The Cavendish School
The Cavendish School is Cambridgeshire’s first state maintained special free school provision for young people with autism; it is collaborating with the International Baccalaureate (IB) to develop and deliver the first IB programmes tailored to the needs of autistic students.
The Cavendish School provides the unique educational environment that young people with autism need to thrive and succeed when their needs cannot be met in a mainstream school.
Its vision is to provide a safe and nurturing environment in which students can enjoy learning, achieve their potential and develop the key skills they need to thrive as independent, emotionally, and socially confident young adults.
