Jordon's 'incredibly special' journey from pupil to principal

From pupil to principal – a headteacher has been hailed for “dedication, ambition and commitment to the community.”

Headteacher Jordon O'Neill started her journey at Wingfield Academy not as a teacher, but as a student.

Having grown up in the local community, she was educated at Wingfield herself from 2002 – at a time when the school, which recently received a glowing Ofsted report, was in special measures.

In 2004 Ofsted inspectors noted pupils' behaviour around Wingfield Comprehensive School, as it was then known, as “generally unsatisfactory and is often poor.”

But in its Ofsted inspection earlier this year an inspector described the students as “some of the politest they had ever met.”

Jordon returned to the school, on Wingfield Road in Rotherham, as a mathematics teacher and steadily progressed through the profession—becoming head of mathematics, assistant headteacher and, ultimately, headteacher.

And she says the lessons she learned in school about “respect, responsibility and resilience” are ones that remain firmly rooted at the school she is now in charge of.

“It is incredibly special to be leading the school that played such a significant part in my own life,” she said.

“I joined as a student in 2002 and was here when the school was in special measures.

“I started in the old school building and you could feel a sense of change happening when we moved into the new building.”

In 2005 the school moved into purpose-built accommodation – and later out of special measures.

“I returned as a teaching assistant just two years after leaving,” said Jordon, “and it was impossible not to become invested in the journey the school was on.

“We had all the raw ingredients – talented young people, dedicated staff and a community that cared deeply about the school.

“There was a real sense of belief that Wingfield could become something exceptional.

“I never imagined that one day I would have the privilege of becoming headteacher.”

Her predecessors were Pippa Dodgshon – who led when she was a pupil – and Russell Heritage who was taking over as she left the school and Phil Davis.

“I've had the best professionals I could hope for to work with – and the reason I am here is down to the culture they created and that mentorship and guidance.

“My heart is in this community.

“Every day I am inspired by our young people and by our colleagues.

“We firmly believe that while not everyone starts from the same place, everyone can work hard, show respect, take responsibility and be resilient.

“Those values underpin everything we do.

“There is no secret to what we've achieved. Our students work exceptionally hard, our staff go above and beyond every day – we DO sweat the small stuff – and the relationships between them are built on genuine care, trust and high expectations.

“One of my proudest moments during the inspection earlier this year wasn't about a judgement at all.

“It was when an inspector described our students as some of the politest they had ever met.

“Seeing our students recognised not only for what they achieve academically, but for the remarkable young people they are meant the world to me.”

Phil Davis, now executive director of secondary education at New Collaborative Learning Trust, said: “Jordon's story is one of dedication, ambition and commitment to the community that helped shape her.

“Importantly, Wingfield Academy is currently the only school in Rotherham to have achieved Strong judgements across all but one Ofsted inspection area. This represents a significant achievement not only for the school but also for the wider community it serves.

“Jordon is a local girl who worked her way through the profession, returned to serve her community, and has led a school improvement journey that is making a real difference to the lives of young people.”