Staff Profile

Background

George is a National Leader of Education (NLE) and the Executive Principal of Harris Academy Greenwich, Harris Academy Ockendon and is also founding our newest free school called Harris Academy Avery Hill, currently being built in Eltham. Originally from Glasgow, he graduated from Aberdeen University with an MA in English Literature, and then from Edinburgh University with a PGCE and a burning desire to teach. He taught English for six years at a secondary school in Edinburgh serving one of the most deprived areas in Scotland, latterly having a whole school remit in charge of promoting positive behaviour. Shortly after moving to London in 2006 he met Dr Tomlinson and joined the Senior Team at Harris Academy Chafford Hundred which at the time was in a ‘Requires Improvement’ category and is now Outstanding in every category. George has a diploma in Educational Leadership, has the NPQH, is a Senior Practitioner with the European Mentoring and Coaching Council (EMCC) and is also an accredited ORSC (Organisation and Relationship Systems Coaching) facilitator. His love for teaching shows as he still teaches English every week and he is fiercely proud of the students and staff that he leads.

Role within Harris Federation

When George became the Principal of Harris Academy Greenwich in January 2011 the school was in Special Measures and was inadequate in nearly 30 areas under the old Ofsted framework. The school roll had been falling for a number of years and behaviour was extremely poor, with violence and gross defiance endemic. The school came out of Special Measures in 5 terms and then converted to join the Harris Federation. Two years after that they were awarded Outstanding in every category in July 2014.  Results went from 28% 5ACEM to 49% to 73% to 85% in the first three years and has remained in the top 20% of schools in the country since.

George has been leading on the new Harris Academy Avery Hill which is set to be one of the most stunning school builds in the country.  When Harris took on the previously failing Ockendon Academy in September 2019 he was asked to oversee the transformation of that school’s fortunes as Executive Principal. 

As part of his NLE work, George also coaches a number of Principals and senior teams both in and outside the Federation.

Key Achievements

The national context has changed so much with massive pressures in curriculum change and assessment which has affected disadvantaged pupils disproportionately across the country. Despite this, year on year Harris Greenwich SEN and Pupil Premium students have performed way above the national average.  George is happy to have won the Pupil Premium Award from the DfE placing them in the top 4% of schools in the country for Value Added.  Harris Greenwich is also one of very few schools that has won the World Class School award not just once, but twice.

He is also really proud of the culture of ‘high rapport high challenge’ they have built in the Academy, particularly over the last two years. Morale is high and there is a great atmosphere amongst the staff. Furthermore he aims to recruit staff who buy into the school’s vision and ensure that they nurture and challenge staff in a way that creates energy and dynamism for all.

Harris Facilitator

George trains staff on the NPQML, NPQSL, NPQH & NPQEL leadership programmes, covering modules such as coaching and feedback, vision and values, inclusion and behaviour. He loves having the opportunity to have a real influence in developing and inspiring staff to be better than they ever thought possible.