Senior Leadership Team (ID 1094)

• Jon Ryder
  Principal
  Jon Ryder

  Attracted to a career in teaching from an early age, Jon has worked at George Green's School since 2014, firstly as Deputy Headteacher in charge of standards, the curriculum and teaching learning, and since September 2019 as Principal. Inspired to teach at George Green's for its unique and historical location in an interesting and stimulating community, Jon says he feels lucky to work with in a role that allows him to impact the academic outcomes of students and it is a privilege to help students shape their future.

  For Jon, his favourite aspect of the job is supporting young people to become change-makers. Through a brilliant education, Jon believes that George Green's School is teaching the scientists, the engineers, the journalists and the lawyers who will make the world a better place.

  Praising the dedication of staff to make all lessons enjoyable and stimulating, he notes that his greatest joy is knowing students leave George Green's having made exceptional progress. He puts this down to the high levels of support students receive throughout their time at George Green's, as well all the extra-curricular opportunities they are exposed to. He is particularly proud of the hard working and dedicated staff team at George Green's, who always go the extra mile for their students.

  "My vision for the future of George Green's School is to continue on our upward trajectory of success and growing from strength to strength; I am very ambitious for our students and would like more of them to progress to our sixth form to continue their journey. I also look forward to our provision being recognised as Outstanding by Ofsted."

• Aidan McQuaid
  Deputy Headteacher
  Aidan McQuaid

  With a passion for sports and a history of representing  his county across numerous sports, Aidan decided at an early age that a career passing on knowledge and sharing his passion of something he loved would be a perfect match.

  Discussing the positive relationships between staff and students, he notes that students recognise the amount of hard work and dedication the staff body put in to ensure their success, and he praises them for constantly thinking of ways to improve and develop their provision.

  "The students are our greatest asset. I love working with young people and seeing them grow, develop and thrive and it is even better contributing to this. I enjoy working with staff and students to improve the teaching and learning experience for all and look forward to the onward journey as we strive to be outstanding in all areas."

• Miriam Porter
  Deputy Headteacher
  Miriam Porter

  Passionate about both her subject and education itself, Miriam was attracted to a career in teaching as she thought it offered the opportunity to change the lives of young people and truly make a difference. Having worked at the school since 2011, Miriam feels privileged to work alongside such exceptional colleagues and students every day. For Miriam, George Green's School is a place that is ambitious for its students and where the staff will do everything they can in order to support their students to become successful adults.

  "I love working with the students at George Green's. The school nurtures them and they know that we will help them to achieve both personally and academically. They are encouraged by the high expectations  that we have of everyone, but also know that we will support them to achieve their goals. At George Green's, students feel valued and have staff who believe in them."

• Lydia Casey
  Assistant Headteacher
  Lydia Casey

  The critical connection between education and social justice has guided Lydia's career in teaching since 2014. Having worked in the charity and advertising sectors after completing a law degree, it was the desire to have a tangible impact on young people's lives that ultimately drew her to teaching. Lydia loves working at George Green's School thanks to its focus on educational research and the fact that the school sits at the heart of its community, putting people first. In her current role, Lydia feels privileged to impact the professional development of new teachers believing that in the current climate schools have a duty more than ever to support those entering the profession. Having previously been in the role of Head of English, Lydia loves nothing more than instilling a love of literature in her pupils and seeing how stories can help young people to make sense of the world around them.

  "Our students love coming to school as they know they'll be supported here to be the best versions of themselves. I love working here because George Green's School is a community that cares for one another whilst maintaining the highest expectations of our students and the education that we provide."

• Athena Christodoulou
  Assistant Headteacher
  Athena Christodoulou

  Passionate about both education and supporting young people emotionally and academically, Athena fulfilled her lifelong aim of becoming a teacher to give students the best opportunities possible, irrespective of their backgrounds. Athena started working at the school in 2022, after having worked in a number of roles across London and also in Dubai. Athena has enjoyed supporting Sixth Formers to apply for Higher Education and plan for their future careers and it is clear that George Greens school is committed to doing the best they can to support all students in their next stages of life. For Athena, it is about both having the academic credentials as well as supporting students to be the best adults and versions of themselves that they can possibly be.

• Thomas Downey
  Assistant Headteacher
  Thomas Downey

  Thomas has spent the past decade working in London schools and chose to join George Green's School due to the relentless focus on being exceptional. The part of the job that he loves most is immersing students in the wider world and as an experienced teacher of History and Politics he relishes the opportunities he has to shape these meaningful learning experiences. He is passionate about learning and teaching and enjoys the opportunities that George Green's School provides for all staff to become experts in their craft. Thomas is proud of the support provided for the professional development of our staff and how we emphasise the importance of wider personal development of our young people. He believes this is fundamental to making the school the happy and caring place that it is.

  "The best thing about students at George Green's School is that they are polite and inquisitive. They want to learn more about the world around them and they are committed to making their school, their community and the world around them a better place."

• Kate Garcia
  Assistant Headteacher (DSL)
  Kate Garcia

  Kate Garcia has worked at George Green's School since 2007. She enjoys spending everyday with the diverse, motivated and ambitious students and feels that she learns from them everyday. Kate is an English teacher and loves sharing her love of reading with her classes. She is also  the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) at school and is committed to ensuring that all children feel both safe and happy within the school and their wider local community. She recognises the importance that effective partnerships with familles and external agencies, such as social care and the Police, have in order to protect and safeguard children. When Kate was at school herself she had ambitions to either be a teacher or a social worker, her role as Assistant Headteacher (DSL) at George Green's School has allowed her to combine both; she feels very lucky.

  "Students love coming to our school as it is calm, inclusive and welcoming. I hope that all of our children feel that feel genuinely cared for by all our staff and each other. I want all of our students to know that we expect them to strive, at all times, for their absolute best in order for them to have a future built on choice. Our students and staff make George Green's School a very special place to be."

• Kate Honeysett
  Assistant Headteacher
  Kate Honeysett

  Over the 12 years Kate has worked at George Green's School, she has witnessed students talents nurtured, their potential realised, their needs supported and their best possible outcomes achieved. She believes that the sense of community across the Isle of Dogs is replicated in the school, and throughout the school every students' differences and cultures are celebrated, with the opportunity to learn from each other encouraged.

  Kate was attracted to a career in teaching after completing a work experience placement in Sixth Form, enjoying working in a positive, energetic and inspiring working environment with a direct impact on those around them. Wanting the opportunity to inspire others through education, she takes pride in the school and the work between staff and students to improve; and praises students for understanding the importance of, and placing value in their education.

  My role is unique in the sense that every day I have the opportunity to impact both academically and pastorally. The Year Leader role is one of the most important in school; it allows me to interact with a whole year group in every aspect of their education. My vision for the future of George Green's school is to provide a frame work for all students to achieve during their time with us, to become well-rounded individuals, with a thirst for learning and successful in their chosen pathway.

• Caroline Hurley
  Assistant Headteacher
  Caroline Hurley

  Having worked at George Green's School in a variety of roles since 2007, Caroline was delighted to join the Senior Leadership Team in January 2022 as an Assistant Head. As someone who loves learning, Caroline has always wanted to be an educator and foster a love of learning in others. She was initially attracted to George Green's School because of its community values, inclusive ethos and high expectations for all students. These were all important in her experience of growing up and going to school in Tower Hamlets and are at the heart of what she believes an educational institution should encompass. They are still the reasons why she continues to love working at George Green's. She believes that George Green's School continues to improve year on year because staff here always strive to provide the best educational experience for all students and enable them to become the best versions of themselves.

  "I feel very fortunate and proud to work at George Green's school. It is a real privilege to be part of a student's academic and personal development, to support them through challenges and share in celebrating their successes. One of the highlights of being part of the George Green's community is the lasting and collaborative relationship you build with the students and their families. It is these relationships that help you to know that pupils are gaining the knowledge, skills, experiences, morals, principles, habits and characteristics to be successful now and in the future."

• Bernie Callanan
  Associate Assistant Headteacher
  Bernie Callanan

  Bernie is committed to facilitating inclusive spaces for all, where people can feel safe, supported and celebrated. George Green's is a values-driven organisation which is why Bernie loves working there. He appreciates that the inclusive practice in the school is not an 'add-on', but instead an expected standard which is relentlessly pursued.

  "The energy young people bring to school inspires me every day, and, I'm not alone. A staff body of over 100 people relish the opportunity to support our student cohort. We're proud of who we are, and what we stand for. This is George Green's School.

• Nozmul Haque
  Associate Assistant Headteacher
  Nozmul Haque

  Nozmul joined George Green's in the summer of 2020 as our Head of Business & Economics Faculty, having previously held the same position at an all through academy in London. His experience volunteering in a local secondary school and sixth form was what inspired him to become a teacher, and he has not looked back since. As a teacher of Business and Financial Studies, Nozmul believes it is now more vital than ever, that students are financially literate when they leave school, especially in the current economic climate. He was born and raised in Tower Hamlets - a key reason for joining George Green's School was to give back to the community that gave to him, and to inspire our young people to become the best version of themselves.

  It is our students who make George Green's School such a great place to work in. They are polite, charismatic and a joy to be around. They value the help and support provided by staff members. The school is going from strength to strength, and with the support of students, staff, parents and other stakeholders, our journey will not stop.

• Sophie Harrison
  Associate Assistant Headteacher
  Sophie Harrison

  Growing up, Sophie always wanted to travel and work abroad. Following her A Levels, this led to a year of teaching English as a foreign language in Hungary and then, following her degree, two years teaching in Japan, where she was able to pursue her love of Japanese literature. After returning to the UK, Sophie worked as a civil servant at the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, where a chance connection led to Sophie observing English lessons at George Green's. In one week, Sophie saw the school's incredible community of staff and students. She immediately decided to retrain as an English teacher and join George Green's school as soon as she qualified.

  18 years later, the school's tangible sense of community, and exploring how texts capture expressions of humanity with students (and staff) are still highlights of her job. She is proud to work in a school which cares about individuals and is progressive and relentless in setting high expectations, providing students with the best educational experience possible.

  I love hearing from students about how their confidence has grown and how they can see this for themselves. I can often be found in the middle of 'book gossip' in the school's library, which is the physical and metaphorical heart of the school. Visiting the library at lunchtime affords a great snapshot of our students. Here, you'll find buzzing book chat across year groups, students working collaboratively together, budding Manga artists, future coders, student helpers and lots of book recommendations.

• Frank Opoku
  Associate Assistant Headteacher
  Frank Opoku

  It was a love of learning and his own school experience growing up in Ghana that first attracted Frank to teaching as a career. When his teachers were absent (there was no such luxury as a supply teacher), Frank would step in to support his peers, showcasing his passion for mathematics, a subject he has thoroughly enjoyed throughout his educational life. The challenge of thinking and the process of logic always draws him back to mathematical problems however difficult, and regardless of the form in which they come.

  Frank considers teaching as an extraordinary opportunity to influence the world positively. That there are few professions that provide a personal sense of achievement in terms of inspiring and supporting the next generation.

  Frank was Head of Mathematics at George Green's school for a decade. In his current role, he leads on all aspects of the whole school timetable and on the whole-school assessment strategy, ensuring it is rigorous, well-evidenced and is easy to communicate to students and parents.

  I believe every child has the right to high quality education, and at George Green's, we are committed to ensuring those rights are at the forefront of our planning. All the staff at George Green's are amazing people who always go the extra mile for others, which has made my time at the school a hugely enjoyable one. However, without doubt, what I love most about the school are the students. The resilience they show on a daily basis, their positive attitude to learning, and their different personalities creates a wonderful working and learning atmosphere here.

Year Leaders (ID 1096)

• Filsan Sed
  Year 7
  Filsan Sed

  Filsan was initially attracted to a career in teaching as she wanted to help nurture and guide our next generation. As an English teacher, she felt that students in inner city schools needed to see diversity reflected in both their teachers and the curriculum, which is why George Green's School was an appealing place to work for her.Having been at the school for five years now, Filsan is the year leader for year 7. The opportunity to support all students on their secondary school journey was something she was always interested in. Her vision for the year group is to be kind, supportive and resilient in order to succeed together (echoing our vision to be Stronger Together). As year leader, she has the highest of expectations for students and wants them to take onus of their learning and behaviour, so that they leave George Green's School as young adults who are ready to become change makers in their communities.

• Mark Davies
  Year 8
  Mark Davies

  As Head of Year 8, Mark's attraction to teaching came from his passion for working with young people and his desire to apply his trade and share subject knowledge to improve the life chances of young learners. For him, the best aspect of his role is the opportunity to oversee a whole year group, supporting their transition from primary to secondary and their development, both academically and pastorally.

  When asked why students love coming to school, Mark noted that it is widely recognised that students are at the heart of everything staff do. Students feel proud to be a member of the George Green's community and benefit greatly from the student experience on offer, from an enriching programme of activities to extensive pastoral care to support them at every stage of the education.

  "I look forward to seeing my year group graduate from George Green's School in 2022; all having made huge progress and watching them reach milestones in their school career. The students at George Green's School show a real desire and hunger to learn and achieve, which is inspiring to witness and makes my job very rewarding."

• Muhamud Rahman
  Year 9
  Muhamud Rahman

  It was while working for the banking sector, in a mainly customer facing role, where Muhamud first began to realise his passion for helping people, which ultimately led to the relatively easy decision, to become a Teacher. Muhamud has a 1st class degree in Business but has always had a passion for Mathematics and always loved the feeling that comes when solving a complex question or problem, so it was then a simple decision to become a Mathematics teacher. Muhamud has been at George Green's for 10+ years, and as a Head of Year, brings the same passion and desire for excellence that he has for himself to all his students.

  "Underpinning everything I do, are the student's best interest. I have a positive mind set, which I try to pass on the students and the also help a positive learning environment. I firmly believe in the GGS Mantra, and is something I live by also. I am always striving for excellence, and I believe, my personal life experiences, education and working life has given me the platform to be a change maker in students. As a Head of Year, I aim to be consistent yet understanding. I want all of Year 9 to leave George Green's proud and happy, with the best possible achievements and with fond and memorable experiences, and also, transferrable skills which helps them be successful in their futures."

• Daisy Maxwell
  Year 10
  Daisy Maxwell

  With a desire to have a positive impact on students and their outcomes in an inner city school, Daisy has worked at George Green's for eight years, joining us as an NQT. When discussing her motivations for joining the school, she simply said that the unique nature of the school as a fundamental part of its local community and the links with businesses that offer opportunities for students were motivating factors alone.

  For Daisy, the highlight of working in George Green's is the daily interaction with students. Their individual characters, inquisitive nature and insightful outlooks makes every day different, and she looks forward to supporting her students into their GCSE year.

  "Looking after a year group is about more than ensuring academic progress, it is about supporting their well-being and making sure everything they need is in place to help them achieve and be happy and safe. The pastoral and nurturing aspect of the role is, for me, one of utmost importance. We have a duty of care to ensure that we provide for the whole child and I make sure that this is in the forefront of my mind."

• Sha Alam
  Year 11
  Sha Alam

  Why did you choose to go into teaching
  The reactions of students when you answer their inquisitive questions, their faces when you engage them with something new and exciting and the opportunity to relate everyday experiences to the educational study of people, culture and the interaction of technology are some of the reasons why I thrive off being a teacher and the reason for my career in teaching.

  Why did you choose GGS
  Community has always been at the heart of anything I do and I feel working at GGS I am able to give back to the community in which I grew up. GGS has a great ethos, it values every member of its school community and helps develop future change makers. GGS is a right respecting school where every child matters and is safe and this is a reason why I choose to work in a school, which promotes and supports the growth of every individual.

  "No one day is the same, every day you come across different challenges, which develop you, further. Being able to inspire young minds, the rarer moments where you are given a thank you notes; the change you see in the student's attitudes; the relationships you build with students and sometime parents. As a teacher who concentrates on the pastoral side of teaching, I am privileged into seeing the journey students take in maturing into respectful, well-mannered, passionate, questioning young adults. Leaders with character who are confident and unafraid, achieving their short-term goals, and stepping out into the world ready to take it on. These are some of the reasons why I have chosen to get into teaching."

• Hilde Lewis
  6th Form
  Hilde Lewis

  Hilde was initially attracted to George Green's school as it was one of the pioneering state schools that introduced the International Baccalaureate almost twelve years ago. She believes that George Green's school continues to provide the best provision for students to succeed in a competitive environment and reach their potential both academically and as well-rounded individuals.

  Before training to be a teacher, Hilde worked as a tax consultant for Ernst & Young and realised that what she enjoyed most in her various roles was developing and mentoring people. She decided to change careers in order to help young people achieve their aspirations and to bring her real life experience into the classroom. It is important to her that students are given an insight into the working world by meeting with a wide range of professionals as well as being able to apply for meaningful work experience and utilising our network within the local community.

  "It is an honour being part of our students' journey while they discover which pathway they want to follow after leaving their secondary education. Working with local businesses and universities, we are able to provide our students with a wealth of opportunities and experiences. My greatest satisfaction is when our alumni return and inspire our current students to strive for the best."