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Our Senior Team
Here you can meet the members of the Senior Leadership Team.
George Faux
Prior to his role as Principal at West Bromwich Collegiate Academy George Faux was the Senior Vice Principal at Shireland Collegiate Academy for four years, having spent 16 years at the Academy. He is also a member of the Trust Strategy Team. Throughout his time at Shireland he has helped lead the Academy through three outstanding Ofsted inspections.
George is a Specialist Leader of Education and has frequently spoken at national conferences about a better curriculum for students especially at KS3. George led Literacy for Life at Shireland for many years and has recently managed its implementation in a number of other schools.
He is the Chief Operating Officer Shireland Learning, the Academy’s school based company, providing technology, back office and curriculum services to schools throughout the region. Working with the Central Team at the Trust he has led on a number of successful Free School applications and is looking forward to the continued successes of West Bromwich Collegiate Academy.
Mary Gardner
Mary Gardner has been a member of the Senior Leadership Team at all three secondary academies that form part of the Shireland Collegiate Academy Trust. Her career began at Thorns Collegiate Academy where roles included Head of Science and Assistant Principal with a variety of responsibilities, including Transition, E-Learning, Safeguarding, Pupil Premium, Alternative Provision, Key Stage 4 Progress, More Able Students and LAC. She moved to Shireland Collegiate Academy in 2018 as Assistant Principal with responsibility for Key Stage 4 Outcomes before joining the newly established team at West Bromwich Collegiate Academy.
Mary grew up and was educated locally in the Black Country before reading a Masters Degree in Biochemistry at the University of Oxford. Her passion for Science and her belief that all young people, regardless of their background, can accomplish anything, is resolute. Having a naturally competitive personality, Mary sets the highest standards for herself and those around her, always striving for the best possible outcomes.
In addition to supporting George Faux with the leadership of the Academy, Mary will be delivering an exciting Science curriculum to West Bromwich Collegiate Academy students. She is passionate about all aspects of STEM and empowering young people, particularly young women, to embrace and pursue their interests, whatever they may be. She strives to instil a love of learning and knowledge, whilst supporting students to become well-rounded, responsible and happy young adults, who have pride in their community.
Hannah Percival
Hannah Percival joined West Bromwich Collegiate Academy as a Director of Literacy for Life in September 2019 and has now been promoted to the role of Assistant Principal. She is a Specialist Leader of Education and a Lead Practitioner, who has worked as part of the Senior Leadership Team at Shenley Academy with responsibility for Teaching and Learning, for the ten years prior to joining WBCA.
Hannah is a History specialist who has previously held the roles of Head of History and Assistant Principal for the Humanities Faculty.
She grew up and was educated in the Black Country, studying for a Modern History Degree (BA Hons) and PGCE at the University of Birmingham.
Hannah has a passion for teaching and learning and is experienced in coaching, mentoring and training leaders and teachers to support students in their learning to achieve the best possible outcomes.
Michelle Hill
Michelle Hill joined West Bromwich Collegiate Academy as Assistant Principal for Inclusion (SENCo) in Easter 2022. She is a very experienced SEND practitioner who has worked for the Local Authority as a Specialist Teacher for SEMH, and for the last three years as a Sandwell Local Authority SEND Advisor. Within the SEND Advisor role, she had an active role in school improvement for SEND across over 130 schools.
Michelle grew up locally in West Bromwich and after attending Brunel University to study Modern Drama, she returned to the West Midlands to complete her PGCE and NASENCo qualification.
Michelle has a passion for supporting SEND students and strives to improve the quality of provision across all areas of need. She is experienced in training school leaders to improve the quality of education for SEND students and has a drive to increase engagement with SEND families.
Emma Lewis and Mike Jennings
Emma Lewis and Mike Jennings will be joining the Senior Leadership Team in September 2021. Both have performed the role of Assistant Principal for a number of years with responsibilities in Pastoral, Behaviour and Safeguarding. Emma’s specialism is in Science while Mike teaches History.
Sir Mark Grundy
Sir Mark was knighted in 2006 for his services to education and technology in the UK. Sir Mark has led two schools to be judged Outstanding by Ofsted; in March 2013, Shireland was judged for a third time to be an Outstanding and an “Exceptional” Academy. He now leads the Shireland Collegiate Academy Trust as Chief Executive Officer (CEO).
Sir Mark also works for the DfE as the Education Advisor to the Regional Schools Commissioner for the West Midlands and sits on the board of the Education Endowment Foundation.
David Irish
David Irish is the Principal of Shireland Collegiate Academy in Smethwick, Secondary Lead for the Trust and is a Specialist Leader of Education. He has worked in education for over 20 years and has been a member of the Executive Leadership Team at Shireland for the last six.
David has worked on Senior Leadership Teams both in middle and secondary settings. Whilst working in middle schools, David had responsibility for standards across KS2 and KS3. He has been supporting schools in the locality through his role as a member of the Local Authority Fair Access Panel, and also as Chair of Governors for Sandwell Community Secondary for Alternative Provision.
