The Senior Leadership
Adam Shelley - Headteacher
Key Roles and Responsibilities: Curriculum Progress and Standards
Career Overview: I have worked in education for more than 20 years in many different roles, most recently as Acting Head in another local school. Before this my roles have included Deputy Head, Assistant Head, Head of Department and a Maths and Computer Science teacher. During my time in teaching I have always been happy to teach subjects outside my specialism and have taught A level Psychology and Philosophy as well develop Citizenship and the PSHE curriculum. In 2005, I published a resource book for Maths teachers called “ICT links – Maths”. I have also had articles published in computer teaching magazines as well as creating teaching resources for various companies including the National grid.
I first moved to Dorset in 2001 where I became part of the National Strategy consultant team for Dorset County Council working with secondary schools including The Sir John Colfox Academy to develop their ICT curriculum.
I achieved a Masters of Education (MEd) in 2015 at the University of Exeter where my dissertation focused on meta cognition and motivation of students. I gained a postgraduate National Professional Qualification in Headship in 2007.
My main focus is improving the quality of education for all students in Bridport and giving everyone the best opportunities possible for them to succeed in the future. I live in Bridport with my wife and two children.
Carol Duffy - Deputy Head
Key Roles and Responsibilities: Behaviour, Attitudes and Attendance
Career Overview: I joined the Sir John Colfox Academy in 1999 as a teacher of French and German. At this time the school had opened the new buildings and had just become a designated Language College. This brought many opportunities for the whole school but particularly in the development of languages within our curriculum. Since then, I have held many roles and responsibilities within the school one of which was Head of Modern Foreign Languages for several years. I continue to teach French from Key Stage 3 through to A Level in Year 13.
Since becoming a member of the Senior Leadership Team at the school I have had many whole school responsibilities. Currently, I have responsibility for educational outcomes at KS3 including pastoral care. I am the Designated Safeguarding Lead for the school and work alongside our middle leaders and the Deputy Headteacher at KS4 to ensure that our students have the best opportunities to thrive
Tom Hardinge - Deputy Head
Key roles and responsibilities: Curriculum - Quality of Education - Assessment
Career overview: I qualified in 2008 as a Geography teacher and began my career in the North-West of England in Kendal, on the edge of the Lake District, which was the perfect place to indulge my passions for the outdoors. I moved to Dorset to be closer to family and take up a position as Head of Geography, before moving to become a Head of Year and then Assistant Headteacher. I have experience of supporting other teachers and schools to develop their practice along with working with trainees and leading teacher leadership programmes. As well as teaching Geography, I've taught Business Studies for the past few years and am currently also teaching English at SJCA.
Background and interests: I grew up in the South West and have always had a passion for the outdoors - whether that be the moorland of Dartmoor or the beaches of Dorset. In my spare time I love to be active - riding my bike, walking the dog, or dragging my family off on a walk somewhere. I'm also very slowly renovating my house and learning some essential DIY skills along the way.
Adam Teasdale - Assistant Head
Key Roles and Responsibilities: Head of Sixth Form and Student Development and Wellbeing
Career Overview: I entered teaching following a career in museums and archives, publishing and working for the BBC. I have not looked back! I started teaching English in 2009 and became Head of Department shortly after. I thoroughly enjoyed the challenge of leading a successful department in the school, and I jumped at the chance to join the Senior Leadership Team and become Head of Sixth Form in 2016. I manage the Personal Development and Wellbeing aspect of the school, overseeing the PSHE and tutorial programme, as well as the assemblies and development programmes in place for all learners. I love teaching, coaching and supporting all students, but seeing students progress through the school to become sixth-formers (perhaps going on to university) is something that gives me immense satisfaction. I am proud of everything the academy does to provide an excellent education for everyone.’
Background and Interests: As a teacher of English, I love to read! As a teacher of Film, I love cinema! As for everything else, I love walking, cooking and travel.
Laura Cornish - Associate Assistant Head
Key Roles and Responsibilities: SENDCO: Supporting SEND, Inclusion and Disadvantaged students
Career Overview:
Neil Allies - Director of Modern Foreign Language
Key Roles and Responsibilities: School's EAL co-ordinator, lead the Reading programme in Year 7, and line manage Art and Music. I'm also a Director of Education for Initio, leading MFL across the trust
Career Overview: I have always been fascinated by languages and, before I became a teacher, I studied for a degree in Spanish and Italian at Cardiff University, followed by postgraduate studies in ancient history, linguistics and Latin and, finally, a PhD looking at how Latin evolved into Spanish in early medieval Spain. I have been lucky to spend time abroad, studying and living in Spain and Italy in particular, and working as a translator. I became a teacher in 2011, having completed my PGCE in Gloucester, and my first job was at Colfox. Since being at the school, I have taught Spanish, Italian, French, Latin and Classical Greek. I have worked in different roles in the school, including Head of Modern Foreign Languages for many years, before becoming a Director of Modern Foreign Languages for Initio. This means that I get to work with lots of different schools, helping students to learn foreign languages. Apart from teaching languages, I also love to learn them myself (ancient or modern!), and enjoy watching films and reading books in the languages to help me learn. One of my aims is to learn German well enough to read one of my favourite books in its original language, Gunter Grass's The Tin Drum, which is set in one of my favourite cities to visit, Gdansk in Poland.