After almost 25 years in education, that spans both Primary and Secondary, I am truly honoured to be the very first Principal of the first of the Technology Primary Schools to be built in the West Midlands and the one that will be most closely linked to its founder school Shireland Collegiate Academy.
Having been lucky enough to have worked at Shireland for the past 12 years, it has been my dream to build a school from scratch; a blank piece of paper and not very many people get the chance to do so. To imagine, design and create a brand-new school and work with others and watch it develop and take shape is a once in a lifetime opportunity. From the building design and developing the outdoor spaces to shaping our unique E3L Curriculum and our Digital Skills Framework, and creating a strong vision and ethos that pervades through all that we do, I have been there from the very start and every step of the way until the doors open for the very first time.Our values EXCITE, EXPLORE, EXCEL go to the core of the school and drive everything that we do.
I have worked in and served the community of Smethwick in both Primary and Secondary for 20 years and am proud to be part of something so very exciting. Smethwick is a special place. It has a heart and a soul unlike anywhere else. We need the children of Smethwick to be prepared for the world in 20 years’ time and provide them with a skillset that will help them support their studies and utilise them in the world of work. Shireland Technology Primary will absolutely grow learners of the future and for our future. They will be smart, creative learners who push boundaries, collaborate freely and excel beyond their expectations.
I am looking forward to continuing to provide exceptional and unique education provision and experiences in Smethwick, that are unlike any other primary school in the country and leading Shireland Technology Primary School.
Kirsty Tonks, Principal of Shireland Technology Primary School
