Five new appointments at Ormiston Academy.
Birmingham Ormiston Academy has strengthened its team with the appointment of five key new members of staff as it begins its fifth academic year.
The specialist creative, digital and performing arts academy in Birmingham’s Eastside district has been on a recruitment drive to secure new heads of departments for four of its nine dedicated courses, as well as a new vice principal to oversee the school’s continued development. The five key appointments to the leadership team join 11 other new staff members starting at the academy this year.
Having opened in 2011 with an intake of 200 students and just 24 staff, BOA has gone from strength to strength as it begins its fifth academic year. With over 1,100 students now enrolled at the academy on a combination of GCSE and post-16 courses, BOA employs 144 staff across its two campuses, having taken over the running of The Old Rep theatre last year.
Kieron Howe, the newly appointed director of music and music technology, begins his new job at BOA following a 19-year career at Queen Elizabeth’s School in Barnet. The new director of musical theatre, Daimen Upton, joins the team from Walton High in Milton Keynes, whilst Andrew Granville takes on his new role as director of dance following posts as Head of Performing Arts and Subject Leader of Dance at a school in Kent. Former Birmingham Metropolitan College lecturer, Drew Lord, also joins the team as director of digital arts, encompassing the broadcast, games development and new media pathways.
Joining the senior leadership team as vice principal, Tony Dean has 14 years’ experience within schools, including two years in Cairo and five years as an Assistant Head at King Edward VI Five Ways School. His role, as one of three vice principals at BOA, will involve monitoring student progress to ensure that all students achieve as highly as possible, and also further developing the BOA curriculum.
The independent state-funded Academy for 14 –19 years old is unique in its approach to education, placing strong emphasis on offering core academic subjects alongside specialisms. Offering a range of pathways in the creative, digital and performing arts, BOA provides students with the opportunity to individualise their learning experience and develop their specific potential and talent.
Gaynor Cheshire, principal of BOA, said: “We are delighted to welcome our new vice principal and directors to the team. Their combined experience will make a valuable addition to our existing team and help to deliver exceptional teaching to our students. We’re very much looking forward to working with our new appointments to achieve another successful academic year.”