New John OGaunt head takes up post
Sarah Brinkley (pictured) said she is determined to build on the successes achieved by her predecessor Neil Spurdell, who presided over a remarkable turnaround in the school’s fortunes during his three-year tenure.
Mr Spurdell said he was thrilled that such an “outstanding” candidate had been appointed as his replacement.
Mrs Brinkley left her post as deputy headteacher at John Mason School in Abingdon to take up her new role.
Ofsted has described her teaching as “outstanding” and her appointment was unanimously approved by John O’Gaunt governors.
She said: “When you look for your first headship, it has to be right. I visited four schools but I only applied for this one. When I first walked in it felt very familiar - it felt very much like a family, very welcoming and proud of its success.
“Everyone I spoke to had the attitude: ‘We believe we can.’ There’s a great sense of community and the staff understand the needs of the pupils.”
She added: “My priority in the first term is to get to know the local community as well as the parents, pupils and staff. There are some huge successes to be built on here.
“I’ve worked very closely with Neil in the past few months. He’s created a really good platform to build on. I’m also keen to visit primary schools and meet the parents.”
Mrs Brinkley, aged 41, began her career as an English teacher at Hove Park School in Brighton and was made head of the sixth form in her second year.
In 1999 she moved to Trinity School in Shaw to preside over the new sixth form before accepting a deputy head teacher’s post in Abingdon in 2008.
She described John O’Gaunt Community Technology College as “an inspiring place to be.”
Mrs Brinkley is a keen long distance runner and also lists her hobbies as dog walking and cooking.
She said: “I find cooking very therapeutic and I’m obsessed with baking at the moment. Cooking with the kids is great, too. I also like films and, of course, reading.”
The school governors said in a statement: “We are confident that Mrs Brinkley will do an outstanding job in building on the excellent work of Neil Spurdell and his colleagues in ensuring that the John O’Gaunt school community provides a most positive and rewarding education experience for all the students at the school.”
