ARCH

Leadership Team

The Senior Leadership Team have the overall responsibility for the strategy of the school and target setting.

Gill Shirt
Headteacher

Gill Shirt

It is my privilege to lead our ambitious, respectful, caring and honest students and staff at Todmorden High School. As a values driven person I truly believe that it is my responsibility to ensure Todmorden High School unlocks each individual’s unique potential.

We know our children well, it is important to our governors , staff and myself that all children develop to make the right moral choices in life, that they develop confidence in their own opinions and abilities. We all aim to help every child succeed whilst they are at, and once they have left school.

I was born and brought up locally and have a love of the area and the people, being Headteacher of Todmorden High School is an honour. I will continue to aim high for all our students and for the local community.

Emily Rawlinson
Deputy Headteacher (DSL)

Emily Rawlinson

I am Deputy Headteacher with responsibility for Standards, Attitude to Learning and Personal Development. This involves ensuring our ARCH values are embedded into all aspects of school business.

I love working at Todmorden High School watching children from the community grow into young adults ready to tackle the next stage of their education.

I teach geography, and have done for the past 15 years; it a subject that changes on an almost daily basis and is tremendously relevant to understanding the world we live in.

Alice Coates
Deputy Headteacher

Alice Coates

I am Deputy Headteacher with responsibility for standards, curriculum and data. My key role is to ensure the very highest of standards of learning and teaching for all students.

Working at Todmorden High School is amazing. The students, staff and community are fantastic.

I teach maths and passionately believe it is the most wonderful subject.

Alison Mansfield
Assistant Headteacher

Alison Mansfield

I am Assistant Headteacher for Learning and Teaching. This involves working with all staff to ensure that the quality of teaching in the classroom is the best it can be and to ensure that students learn the things they are taught. I love the fact that I am able to see lots of different teachers and I can ethically pilfer their ideas for my own lessons. I also love being present when students get the ‘light bulb moments’ and the learning really clicks.

I have taught a number of subjects in my career including English, A-level law Drama and Dance. At Todmorden I am privileged to be teaching Child Development. 

Andrew Nalborczyk
Assistant Headteacher

Andrew Nalborczyk

I am now in my fourth year at Todmorden High School and really happy working in such a lovely school community. I am passionate about making a positive difference to the community in which I live with my family. I will be continuing to work hard to ensure that all students at Todmorden High School can fully participate in all aspects of their school life, regardless of the challenges that many students may face both inside and outside of school. It is so important for our school to keep offering amazing opportunities to all our students, from trips to a local cafe or as far away as Eswatini in Africa.

I have been a science teacher for over 14 years and had the opportunity to teach business studies and catering during my career too. I'm always very happy in a laboratory teaching, most of all chemistry. Before becoming assistant headteacher I held the position of Head of Science for five years. I am also currently studying for further qualifications in education.

Gemma Cooper
Assistant Headteacher/SENCO

Gemma Cooper

I am Assistant Headteacher and also SENCO. I have worked at Todmorden High School for many years and know our school, students and the local community well. I took on the role of SENCO in 2013 as I passionately believe all students should have the opportunity to unlock their unique potential. I wanted to use my own personal experience and understanding of SEND to help improve the provision offered for some of our most vulnerable students in school.

I have high expectations for myself and for our students and work hard to ensure all are supported and challenged to achieve ambitious goals for the future. I am extremely proud to work at the school with a fantastic set of students and staff. 

Catherine Vose
Assistant Headteacher

Catherine Vose

I am Assistant Headteacher working with the quality of education team. My role involves ensuring all new teachers receive the best induction to Todmorden High School to enable them to deliver the curriculum to the highest standards. I am also responsible for the data, assessment and reporting that takes place in the school. Again, ensuring high quality delivery for all students. 

I am a History teacher and have been for the last 13 years; it is a subject that I love and thoroughly enjoy teaching; it's a subject that allows students to reflect on the issues of today and generate informed opinions on national and international matters. 

Leanne Maude
Associate Assistant Headteacher for Personal Development

Leanne Maude

I am an Associate Assistant Headteacher with a responsibility for personal development. Personal development is a thread that runs throughout every aspect of school life at Todmorden High School.  It is my responsibility to ensure that our students receive the very best opportunities to develop their character during their time at our school so that they embody our ARCH values.  Within this, it is about ensuring that this happens within the taught curriculum but also through extracurricular opportunities as well. 

In addition to this role, I am also a classroom teacher.  My main subject is history, however I have also taught Latin and Maths.