The Federated Governing Body of Glenmoor School and Winton Arts and Media College are pleased to announce the appointment of Mr Ben Parnell as Head of School for Winton Arts and Media College. Mr Parnell will have responsibility for all aspects of the College and will work with Mr Roger Allen Head Teacher of Glenmoor School and Winton College, in developing strategies to further improve all aspects of the College's activities. Mr Parnell will take up this permanent post in September 2011.
The Governing Body would like to place on record their considerable gratitude to Mr Joe Burns for all he has achieved in the last two terms and to wish him well for the future.Mr Ben Parnell - an introductory profile:
Professional
Ben, who holds an Honours Degree in Environmental Studies and a PGCE in Geography Education, began his teaching career at Camborne School and Science College, from where he moved to Kingsmead Community School in Wiveliscombe Somerset. As Head of Geography he moved the department from the County position of 20 to the top five with work on schemes of work, assessment, and developing teaching and learning across the team. Ben had his first taste of whole school leadership leading on rewards across the school alongside key skills and enterprise education. After 5 years at Kingsmead, Ben was appointed to a Deputy Headship at Chilton Trinity Technology College where he helped the school move from a national challenge position to an expected 51% 5 A*-C including English and Maths this year. Most recently he has been on secondment to what was the Priory School and is now Sky College to become Principal of the school that had been in special measures for nearly 5 years. He was the fourth head in as many years to attempt to move the school out of special measures. After only the second monitoring visit following Ben's appointment the school was taken out of special measures and into the category of satisfactory with many good features.
Personal
Ben was born in London but spent most of his childhood growing up in Bodmin which allowed him access to his two favourite pastimes, surfing and rugby and he has represented Wiveliscombe for the past eight seasons as fly half. He has recently taken up golf and has quickly found that it satisfies an addiction to purchasing sporting equipment. Ben's wife is a Science teacher and he is an extremely proud father of an eight year old daughter. In addition to sport, Ben loves live music and watches it as often as he can. He regrets that watching live music has not however, improved his playing ability!
